In this episode, we explore three distinct approaches to our relationship with food: emotional eating, restrained eating, and intuitive eating.

• Emotional Eating: This involves eating in response to negative emotions like stress or sadness, often turning to comfort foods for temporary relief. While it may offer short-term solace, emotional eating can lead to overeating, weight gain, and a disruption of natural hunger cues, affecting both physical and mental health.
• Restrained Eating: Restrained or restrictive eating is about controlling food intake to manage weight, often through calorie counting or strict meal plans. However, research shows this method can increase body dissatisfaction, disordered eating patterns, and lower overall well-being, disconnecting individuals from their natural hunger signals.
• Intuitive Eating: A more adaptive approach, intuitive eating focuses on listening to your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues while rejecting rigid diet rules. Research highlights its benefits for mental well-being, weight stability, and a healthier relationship with food.

We also discuss the Acceptance Model of Intuitive Eating, which illustrates how intuitive eating fosters a positive body image and improved mental health by encouraging body acceptance and mindfulness around food.

This episode is your gateway to understanding how these approaches impact not only your physical health but also your mental and emotional well-being.

• Avalos, L. C., & Tylka, T. L. (2006). Exploring a model of intuitive eating with college women. Journal of Counseling Psycholog y, 53(4), 486–497. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.4.486
• Environ 2023: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2722
• Giacone et al., 2024: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471015324000035#:~:text=Intuitive%20eating%20(IE)%20is%20an,and%20stopping%20when%20feeling%20full
• Markey et al., 2023: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10086804/pdf/BJHP-28-136.pdf .