One surprising thing can block weight loss and trigger food cravings

Comfort eating is a well-known phenomenon but new research suggests happy emotions can also trigger over-consumption. Research by the University of Leeds found feelings such as excitement and celebration can also alter behaviour and derail weight loss.

Data from more than 3,800 members of Slimming World found those who lost the most weight reported low levels of both negative and positive emotional eating. They also had fewer food cravings, better craving control and better overall mental wellbeing.

The most successful slimmers lost more than 10% of their body weight in the first 12 weeks of the programme, shedding on average 17kg.

Study leader Dr Gemma Traviss-Turner, an associate professor in behavioural medicine, said: “This is one of the first large-scale studies to explore both positive and negative emotional eating.

“It highlights the importance of understanding and addressing emotional eating and treating it as a real issue in weight management.

“Many people have struggled with emotional eating for years or even decades and have experienced significant guilt and shame.

“Externally, this has been misconstrued as lack of discipline or greediness and people have suffered in silence.”

Participants who lost more weight said techniques that helped them stay on track included distraction, keeping health foods readily available and planning meals.

The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey.

Other research presented at the conference this week found lifts capacity esitmates are not keeping up with people's bulging waistlines.