Is Emotional Eating Considered An Eating Disorder?
Emotional eating is not considered an eating disorder on its own. It refers to eating in response to emotions rather than physical hunger, and it is something most people experience at times.
Eating disorders are diagnosed conditions with specific clinical criteria, whereas emotional eating is a behaviour pattern. While the two can overlap, they are not the same.
Many people who emotionally eat do not have an eating disorder and do not go on to develop one. Understanding this distinction can help reduce shame and unnecessary fear.
If you believe you may be experiencing an eating disorder or mental health difficulty that is contributing to emotional eating, it is recommended to seek support from a qualified and licensed mental health professional, particularly one with experience in emotional eating or eating disorders.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or replace professional mental health support.
Evidence and research
Clinical psychology and eating behaviour research distinguishes between diagnosed eating disorders, which have specific diagnostic criteria, and common eating behaviours such as emotional eating, which occur across the general population and are not classified as disorders on their own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Coach Alan is a qualified ITEC Level 3 Personal Trainer with over nine years of experience supporting adults with sustainable fat loss, strength training, and long-term behaviour change.
He is also a psychotherapist in training with the Irish Institute of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IICP), where his work is informed by evidence-based principles from exercise science, nutrition, and psychology. His approach focuses on realistic habit formation, emotional awareness, and non-pressurised lifestyle change.