Diet Quiz 101: Emotional Eating

Find out if and how much your feelings rule your food choices with this quiz. Uncovering the triggers that lead to emotional eating could help you decipher your eating patterns and resolve the problem of unwanted pounds.

Read the following statements, thn rate your own eating habits by using this scoring system.

1 = Never

2 =  Rarely

3 = Sometimes

4 = Often

5 = Always

You can tally your scores below.

1. I eat to control my stress.
2. Eating is one of the big pleasures in my life.
3. I eat well past the point of physical fullness atleast two times a week.
4. When I’m lonely, food comforts me.
5. I find myself eating to put off things that I don’t really want to do.
6. When my life seems out of control, I have a hard time controlling what I eat.
7. Sometimes I eat just for fun.
8. Eating, or trying not to eat, is on my mind a lot.
9. I eat a lot more when I’m alone than when I’m with others.
10. Eating soothes me when I feel blue or anxious.
11. When I was a child, food was a “home remedy” in our house, a source of comfort and love.
12. Food helps me numb painful feelings and makes me feel better.
13. When I’m angry, I find myself stuffing the anger down with food.
14. Sometimes I just can’t stop eating.
15. In a difficult situation I might retreat and turn to food rather than deal with a problem directly.

Total Score: ____________

Scoring: Add up your points for all answers to determine your total score, then read on for the results.

If you scored 15 to 35 points, you have a peaceful relationship with food and are unlikely to routinely respond to difficult emotional situations by eating. Reinforce your healthy attitude by giving yourself weekly self-nurturing treats like a candlelit bubble bath or a massage and by building a strong support system with friends and family. Use relaxation and physical activity to help handle stress. Learning positive coping techniques when life is good keeps the munchies away when times are tough.

If you scored 36 to 59 points, you eat for emotional reasons some of the time. Your eating is sending the message that certain feelings and events in your life need attention. Learn to identify these triggers by keeping a journal of your eating and your feelings. Then, develop new ways to relieve stress, fight boredom, or get comfort.

If you scored 60 to 75 points, food has become a major coping strategy, one you probably find less than effective. You have taken the first step toward change by taking this quiz. Now, develop a support network or friends and family you can trust to guide and support you in dealing with feelings and food effectively.