17 reasons why your child is Overeating?

Posted on September 02, 2015

Since childhood we have been conditioned that emotions and food go hand in hand. We have a celebration and indulgence is in a richly smothered cream cake is inevitable. As soon as we were upset, our parents would buy chocolates and fries to cheer us.

For most of us food cravings are very common to happen when we are at our weakest point emotionally. Emotions are so closely associated with eating that children automatically reach for food without even thinking about it which then leads to overweight or obesity.

To suppress our negative emotions such as feeling sad, angry, lonely what we mostly do is eating without feeling satisfied. Emotional eating can lead children to having loads of foods that are high in sugar and fats such as crisps, chocolates, sweets as snack to nibble all day.

I have observed many mothers handing over a bag of chips to their little ones after school. This is also conditioning. We as parents fail to realise that we are preparing our kids for adulthood as well. It wouldn’t be of surprise if the same child who has been offered a bag of chips after school, picks up a bag of fries or burger after office as an adult. Such habits are difficult to unwind and lead to never ending saga of health issues starting from a mere overweight problem.

 

Why does your child over eat?

What are his / her triggers to emotional /overeating?

 

Here is a quick checklist which will help you to find out the hidden reasons behind your kid’s bingeing problems. Tick the ones you think would be affecting your child the most. You may also write a note for your own reference against a point if you wish to.

That will help you to deal with the trigger and prevent it.

  1. Peer pressure
  2. Family
  3. Lack of support
  4. Television
  5. Bullying/ being bullied
  6. Habit
  7. Stress/ anxious
  8. Angry/sad/upset
  9. Boredom
  10. Loneliness
  11. Skipping your meals
  12. Friends
  13. School
  14. Shopping while you’re hungry
  15. Confusing hunger with thirst
  16. Lack of exercise
  17. Lack of parental control (too much can also be a problem later)

The above points stand true for adults too!

Emotional eating is sometimes the core reason why some individuals are obese and do not lose weight, inspite of all rigorous dieting and exercise efforts.

Have you spotted some triggers in your child or yourself, and want to know some ways of overcoming the overeating pattern. Watch out this space to know more…

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