Why Do We Overeat?

This study — focused on carbohydrates’ effect on blood sugar levels and our perception of hunger — illustrates how what we eat is vital to how much we eat.  We feel more full and eat fewer unnecessary calories when our diets are rich in fruits, vegetables, protein and fiber.  When our diets are heavy in white bread, sugars and processed foods, we eat more overall. However, we often don’t look too far beyond the content of our diets when we consider weight loss. If we don’t stick to healthier eating, we often blame ourselves and our lack of willpower, without exploring other factors that may contribute to our difficulties maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy weight. But eating is about much more than the food we put into our mouths.  In a recent post I discussed cognitive behavioral strategies for improving our eating and exercise habits. In this post, I’m focusing on how we learned to eat, how our families ate when we grew up, and how the environment and norms of the people that surround us have an impact on our eating habits and our weight. A research study assessing family environments that promote overweight children found that families share not just genetics, but also habits, eating styles and activity levels that all affect weight (Birch & Davison, 2001). Parents influence their children’s weight through the foods they feed their children and through their own eating behaviors.  Even parents who are conscientious about eating and weight may...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Brain and Behavior Caregivers Children and Teens Eating Disorders Family Friends General Habits Happiness Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Self-Help Slow Eating Challenge American Adults american diet Behavioral Stra Source Type: blogs