PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 3

Eating Habits
Activity #1
Directions: List of least 5 situations that you tend to eat more than you expected.

1st Situation: Social Influences

Eating behavior is greatly influenced by social setting, according to Suzanne Higgs and Jason
Thomas. When we dine with other people, we eat differently than when we eat alone. Our food preferences
tend to align with those of our close social circles. One explanation for this is because we find it rewarding to
conform to other people's behavior. Other people's behavior, as well as shared cultural expectations and
environmental signals, influence eating norms. If an eating norm is seen to be significant based on social
comparison, we are more inclined to follow it.
2nd Situation: Mental Health
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, those who are obese and have
binge eating disorders are more likely to have a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression.
Overeating may lead to weight gain and the inability to manage binge eating, which can contribute to
depression. Overeating as a coping technique may be triggered by depression. One of the most common signs
of depression overeating is a compulsive need to eat more than you need yet never feeling completely satisfied.
This is especially true if you're eating to relieve stress rather than to eat because you're hungry.
3rd Situation: Premenstrual Syndrome
Binge eating, also known as compulsive eating, is an uncontrollable need to consume more food than
is necessary. It might include sneaking food or snacking when you're not hungry. Some people experience
regret or guilt as a result of their actions. Before a menstrual cycle, many women experience an increase in
hunger. According to some study, increases in the hormones estrogen and progesterone promote cravings for
carbohydrate and sugary meals before a period. Carbs and sugary meals may also assist to alleviate the
exhaustion and poor mood that commonly accompany the start of a period. Both sugars and carbohydrates
promote the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that boosts emotions of happiness. Additionally, eating on
a regular basis helps to maintain blood sugar levels, which may assist to keep emotions stable.
4th Situation: Stress Eating
Some people are prone to ignoring their hunger cues and refraining from eating for lengthy periods of
time as a result of stress. Others become emotional eaters who eat mindlessly as a result of stress. "When
individuals are anxious, some people overeat, and others lose sight of their hunger," Dr. Albers explains.
"Those who quit eating are so preoccupied with their stress that they are oblivious to their hunger signs." When
we're worried, our brains send signs to our bodies, and those who overeat are seeking to distract themselves
with food." According to Dr. Albers, this is part of our fight-or-flight reaction, which helps us deal with
perceived threats in our surroundings. When you're stressed, your body produces cortisol, which is also known
as the stress hormone. Because your brain believes it requires fuel to battle whatever threat is generating the
stress, cortisol can make you desire sweet, salty, and oily meals.
5th Situation: Distracted Eating
It seems so boring to eat without any distractions, and I'd even say it's impossible. There's something
immensely soothing about rewatching episodes of your favorite series while holding a spoon in your hand. The
reasons behind this vary from person to person. My own issue is that if I'm left in silence for too long without a
clear task, my brain tends to overthink. I become agitated when I attempt to eat alone and without distractions,
and I start shoving food down so I can get back to work or whatever I was doing. According to popular belief,
eating in front of a television provides us with a twofold dose of dopamine. Food and entertainment both create
"happy chemicals" in our brains (potentially to the level of addiction). When you combine the two, your body
is filled with feel-good chemicals, making this potent pair difficult to resist.