Are You Stress Eating?

The season of joy and celebration can also be a season of stressful eating for many; read on to understand what causes stress eating and for tips to deal with it

The winter holiday season—or any festive season for that matter—can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it can also be an emotional and stressful period. This stress can manifest in our eating habits, leading to what is known as emotional or stress eating.

There are certain foods we tend to eat more of when we're stressed, and these can affect our health. What's more, our food choices can influence our stress levels and make us feel worse. Here's how.

Why we might eat more when stressed The human stress response is a complex signaling network across the body and brain. Our nervous system then responds to physical and psychological events to maintain our health. Our stress response—which can be subtle or trigger a fight-or-flight response—is essential and part of daily life.