Dubai: Do you find yourself eating away your feelings?

Khaleej Times

27-02-2025

Food isn't just fuel. It's social. It's cultural. It's emotional. In the Gulf region — especially in Dubai — dining out is more than a habit; it's a lifestyle where indulgence is the norm. Food frames social interactions in the workplace and in our personal lives. Swanky business lunches, brunches, endless new restaurant openings, and viral food trends make food less about hunger and necessity and more about eating for the experience.
Food also releases dopamine, the brain's feel-good chemical. It's why eating something we enjoy can instantly lift our mood. 'Everyone emotionally eats sometimes,' says Dr Hollie Shannon, clinical psychologist at Sage Clinics. 'It's normal to enjoy food for comfort or celebration.'
What constitutes 'normal' eating is vastly complex. But experts agree that healthy eating habits include flexibility — eating for pleasure, adjusting intake based on activity levels, and sometimes indulging just because you want to.
Emotional eating, on the other hand, is when food becomes a coping mechanism rather than a choice. 'When we eat in response to stress, anxiety, loneliness or boredom without actual physical hunger that's emotional eating,' Dr Shannon explained. 'It's a way to soothe emotional or psychological discomfort, rather than engage in social experiences and fuel the body. 'If food becomes the primary way to manage emotions, it can turn into a problematic cycle — momentary relief followed by guilt, shame, or loss of control,' she explained.
Like other potentially harmful coping mechanisms, emotional eating can serve as both a distraction and a numbing tool for uncomfortable feelings,' she said. 'It reduces physiological arousal, meaning it literally calms the nervous system. That's why some people might reach for food when they're feeling overwhelmed.'
Not everyone who eats emotionally has an eating disorder, but unchecked emotional eating can spiral into something more serious, such as Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or Bulimia Nervosa (BN).'The warning signs are when eating patterns start interfering with daily life,' said Dr Shannon. 'If someone feels out of control, preoccupied with food, or is using it as their only way to manage stress, that's a red flag.'
Another key sign? Guilt. 'If someone feels a deep sense of shame after eating, or they try to 'compensate' with restrictive dieting or excessive exercise, it's time to re-evaluate their relationship with food and with themselves,' she said.
Dr Shannon, who has recently moved to Dubai, has noticed the paradox being in the city has on people's relationship with stress, food and body image. 'Like many of the world's best cities, Dubai has an amazing food culture,' Dr Shannon noted. 'However, for some people, food can become an obsession. Extravagant menus and viral food trends can create a sense of pressure to 'try the latest' and anxiety about 'missing out.''
In parallel, the city operates at a fast-pace and is obsessed with hustle culture, fitness and aesthetics. 'Everyday life in a busy city undeniably brings a certain level of stress. At the same time, people are bombarded with messages about body ideals — stay fit, look perfect, don't gain weight,' she added. 'I can see how, for many, this push-and-pull leads to guilt, restrictive dieting, and then overeating or bingeing, reinforcing a cycle of emotional eating.'
For those struggling, self-awareness is the first step. 'Recognising the pattern is key,' she emphasises. 'Once you do, you can start shifting towards healthier ways to manage emotions without relying on food.'
Dr Shannon suggested several practical strategies for breaking the habit of emotional eating. A simple strategy is to pause before eating and ask yourself: Am I actually hungry, or am I feeling stressed, anxious, or emotional? Recognising these cues can help distinguish between physical and emotional hunger.
Practising mindful eating is another approach. When you eat, don't do anything other than that: slow down, remove distractions, and pay attention to how food tastes, smells, and feels. This can enhance control over eating habits and make you more attuned to hunger cues.
Expanding coping strategies beyond food is crucial, whether through movement, journalling, deep breathing, or social connection. Lastly, she warns against using restrictive dieting as a quick fix, as it often backfires and fails to address the root causes behind emotional eating.
Food and emotions are deeply linked, but food shouldn't be the only coping tool. 'Enjoying food is normal,' said Dr Shannon. 'Recognising patterns, developing alternative coping strategies, and fostering balance can help prevent emotional eating from becoming harmful.'