“I eat because I’m ravenously hungry.” “I eat because I’m bored, or lonely, or married or single.” “I eat because I pass a donut shop, or because I had too much to drink, or was at a party, or because my mother cooked and I didn’t want to disappoint her, or because I want to eat as much as my husband can, or I don’t want to deprive myself, or I’m depressed.”

Do any of these excuses for overeating sound familiar? If so, it’s a good bet that your weight problem is closely linked to the phenomenon of emotional eating. You’ve somehow chosen eating as your preferred way to handle negative emotions.

Are You an Emotional Eater?