Children may turn to emotional eating when dealing with stress

Turning to food in times of distress can often act as a form of comfort and security. Similar to adults, it is not out of the ordinary for children and teenagers to engage in emotional eating when dealing with negative emotions.

Dr. Kelly Lowry, pediatric psychologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago reveals underlying motives on why it is common for children and teenagers to partake in emotional eating and provides advice on appropriate treatment to tackle this behavioral pattern.

Emotional eating varies for each person, but common reasons include: depression, having a high level of sadness, anxiety, tiredness and boredom.

When children eat emotionally, there is typically a type of food or craving for a specific type of food. Usually, emotional eaters gravitate toward foods that are more palatable and taste better.

"Food can be a form of comfort in times of distress. Better tasting foods tend to provide more comfort because there is a learned response or biological mechanism where high sugar and fat foods are more reinforcing," Lowry said.

To better understand emotional hunger vs. nutrient-needed hunger, it is necessary to distinguish certain triggers. Lowry recommends asking, "Was there an emotional cause that happened before or was the hunger independent?"

If a child is emotionally hungry, there is a craving for a specific food and no other food will satisfy, but with physical hunger, many types of food will fulfill hunger.

What are healthy coping mechanisms to treat emotional eating?

"The first step is trying to make an intentional change and recognizing 'I am turning to food during distress.' After recognition, it's helpful to find adaptable coping mechanisms that are individualized, such as taking a walk, reading a book or listening to music," Lowry said.

Turn to something busy using your hands or body because this provides a child the inability to eat simultaneously. It is also essential to apply a cognitive approach and assess why certain activities or experiences may cause emotional eating.

Caregivers can set examples on how they model positive coping when dealing with difficult emotions. Feeling worried and stressed is normal, and adults can talk about how to use healthy strategies to cope during concerns. Guardians can also reassess food options in the home.

"Think about the ways we reward kids with food, such as when receiving A's or finishing a dinner plate. Stay away from using food rewards as an indication for happiness for a child's behavior and instead think about verbal praise or other nonfood options," Lowry said.

Once a behavior turns into weight gain, overeating or increased negative emotions as a result of emotional eating, seek intervention. Start with a pediatrician, and if issues escalate, therapists or nutritionists can help.

• Children's health is a continuing series. This week's article is courtesy of Lurie Children's Hospital. For additional information, visit luriechildrens.org.