What Is An Example Of Emotional Eating?
An example of emotional eating is eating in response to feelings rather than physical hunger. For example, someone may snack in the evening after a stressful day, even though they ate enough earlier.
Another common example of emotional eating is reward eating, such as using food to celebrate getting through a difficult week. Boredom eating is also common, where food is used to fill time or avoid uncomfortable feelings.
In each case, eating is driven by emotion, habit, or mental fatigue rather than hunger signals from the body. These patterns are very common and do not mean something is wrong.
Recognising everyday examples may help people understand emotional eating without judgement.
Evidence and research
Research in behavioural nutrition shows that emotional states strongly influence eating behaviour, often independent of hunger.
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.