Causes of Overeating

The Free Dictionary defines overeating as habitually eating to excess. Recent statistics released in January 2010 from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 34 percent of American adults are obese and 17 percent of American children. Although overeating is not the only factor in obesity it is a major contributor. Understanding and addressing why you may be consistently eating unhealthy proportions of food could help you change a behavioral pattern and save your life.

Emotions

• According to MedicineNet.com, an online health resource created and maintained by medical doctors, an underlying emotion causes an estimated 75 percent of overeating. Feelings of boredom, loneliness, anxiety and depression are just a few possible factors that could drive a person to overeat.

  To correct this habit, start by evaluating your hunger status; consider the time of your last snack or meal, then determine if there is anything else you can do besides eating. Just by taking a moment to think over your options you reduce the chance of you overating.

Learned Behavior

• Replacing unhealthy foods with fruits and vegetables can help you stop overeating.

  Deborah Deschamps, registered dietitian, licensed dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, states that overeating is often the result of a learned behavior. Overeaters often learn as children to eat all of the food from their plate even if it means gorging. Parents gave this type of instruction to ensure that their child received enough nutritional nourishment.

  As an adult you can teach yourself how to eat less just as your parents might have taught you to eat more. A good method for this is to put the amount of food on your plate that you would like to eat, then reward yourself when you eat less. Put what's left on your plate away for another day. Eventually your stomach will start to shrink and you'll naturally eat smaller portions.

Food Addiction

• A person with a food addiction will overeat because his brain and body is trying to consume enough of the food substance that releases the overall sensation of pleasure. Indications that you could be addicted to food include: mood changes when deprived of certain foods, the uncontrollable desire to eat and the inability to restrict a certain food for a substantial amount of time.

  Seeking medical assistance is necessary in this situation. Talking to a doctor about your compulsion could lead to receiving the intervention you need.