Emotional Eating among Adolescents

Obesity is a current epidemic disease that arouses concerns within the public. As professionals we are interested in physical and emotional causes and outcomes. Emotional Eating is not diagnosed in the classic manner in the DSM-V as clear diagnosis but is common within obese and is especially challenging in adolescence as personality is developing.

Emotional eating in essence is a non- specific automatic response to varied feelings of blame, regret and anger. Negative feelings following emotional eating paradoxically create additional negative feelings. Closed circles as described produce obesity and sickness, and affect well- being and personality development. Adolescents and parents tend to seek medical and psychological assistance struggling with those challenges.

Emma was a shy thirteen years old with a chunky look when referred to our clinic, feeling inferior in relation to her twin. Other environmental and personality conditions lead to treatment inspired by CBT.

Method included use of intake form for systematic data collection, monthly body weighing while discussing results, identifying emotions and preparing towards use of food and emotion diary. Those were accompanied by parent consultation about food consumption and meal habits, and daily email communication with Emma or father.

The main result was achieving therapeutic alliance, characterized by empowerment, self- acceptance and self- flagellation reduction, while increasing treatment success according to CBT guidelines in the future. Long term success rates for treatment of emotional eating are not high but might increase the more personality consolidates while addressing principles of positive psychology and thinking.