Have you ever used food to cope with stress?
The connection between stress and disordered eating habits is well established. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), stress increases the likelihood of disordered eating behaviors, such as binge eating, purging, or severely restricting food intake. Stress can lead to an increase in cortisol, which can lead to cravings for high-calorie, high-fat foods, and may also increase the risk of emotional eating. Additionally, obese persons are more likely to suffer from mental and physical disorders which can in turn lead to chronic stress and/or higher cortisol levels. The link between stress and eating disorders is a vicious circle.