What Is Overeating? Know Its Harmful Effects And Strategies To Avoid This

Overeating can be caused by numerous factors, including emotional stress, habitual behaviour, environmental cues, social pressures, and the availability of highly palatable foods. 

Overeating refers to consuming more calories than the body needs for its immediate energy requirements, leading to various health issues over time. It is the act of eating beyond the body's energy needs, often leading to a caloric surplus. It can be caused by numerous factors, including emotional stress, habitual behaviour, environmental cues, social pressures, and the availability of highly palatable foods. 

Let's have a look at some more reasons why people tend to overeat:

Reasons Of Overeating:

There are many reasons for overeating as mentioned by Dr. Rutu Dhodapkar, Clinical dietician at P.D.Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Center, Khar

• liking towards a particular item


• We have eaten but we want to eat more as it is very delicious 


• We are frustrated or the stress hormone cortisol increases and we crave food or sweets and to overcome it we eat whatever is present in front of us This can be an emotional eating 


• We tend to eat more as later we may not get it again or the same thing again 


• Bulimia nervosa-  Eat and vomit 

Consequences Of Overeating:

Overeating causes a disease called binge eating. It leads to an extra burden on organs like the liver, stomach, and heart, which have to work than requires causing malfunction.

Dr. Rutu Dhodapkar talked about the following immediate consequences:

• Liver- has to work to process excess nutrients causing Fatty Liver. 


• Heart –Overeating and being overweight puts a load on the heart causing High Blood pressure and heart disorders.


• Kidneys – Have to work hard to remove and filter Toxins from the body and the blood, which sometimes may cause damage to kidney functions 


• Stomach – can cause upset stomach, and delay gastric emptying. Severe cases can cause malnutrition.


• Joint Problems-Overeating cause overweight causing pain in Joints developing Osteo arthritis 


• Fertility and pregnancy – Overeating impacts menstrual cycle causing conceiving issues due to hormone imbalance


• Indigestion 


• Acidity


• Vomiting 


• Gassy


• Stomach pain


• Heartburn

Apart from these immediate consequences, overeating can also cause Type-2 Diabetes, nutritional imbalance, heart disease and other serious conditions as well.

Dr Vaishali Pathak, Senior Consultant, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune said, "Over time, overeating can lead to weight gain, obesity, and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, knee joint pains. Lack of self-confidence in public due to obesity."

"It can also have psychological triggers and consequences, including stress, boredom, and emotional distress. It can lead to or exacerbate conditions such as eating disorders and depression," she added.

Regarding the nutritional imbalance caused by overeating, Dr Vaishali said that overeating often involves foods high in fats, sugars, and calories, leading to poor nutrition and deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals despite the high caloric intake.

"Regular overeating can alter the body's metabolism, making it more challenging to lose weight and maintain a healthy balance. It can also disrupt the body's natural hunger and satiety (fullness) signals, making it harder to recognize when the body genuinely needs food," she added.

10 Strategies To Avoid Overeating

These days many people are having health issues with the problem of overeating. Here are 10 effective strategies to help avoid overeating as suggested by Dr. Preeti Nagar, Dietician at Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Noida International University.

• Mindful Eating: Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues, and savour each bite. Eating slowly can help prevent overeating by allowing your brain to register when you're full. Adopting mindful eating practices entails attentively observing bodily hunger and satiety cues while relishing each morsel of food. Consuming meals at a slower pace facilitates the brain's ability to recognize satiety signals, thereby mitigating the propensity for overeating.

• Portion Control: Use smaller plates and bowls to manage portion sizes, and avoid going back for seconds unless you're genuinely still hungry. Employing smaller plates and utensils to regulate portion sizes aids in managing food intake. Restraining from additional servings unless genuine hunger persists serves as a strategic approach to prevent overconsumption of calories.

• Stay Hydrated: Drink water before meals, as thirst can sometimes be mistaken for hunger. Staying hydrated can also help control appetite. Maintaining adequate hydration levels, particularly by consuming water before meals, serves to diminish the likelihood of mistaking thirst for hunger. Optimal hydration not only contributes to overall health but also assists in moderating appetite, thereby curbing the tendency to overeat.

• Balanced Meals: Include a balance of protein, healthy fats, fibre, and complex carbohydrates in your meals to promote satiety and prevent excessive snacking. Crafting meals that encompass a harmonious blend of macronutrients such as protein, healthy fats, fibre, and complex carbohydrates fosters feelings of fullness and satiety. This balanced composition supports metabolic processes and deters excessive snacking episodes, consequently mitigating the risk of overeating.

• Plan Snacks: Have healthy snacks available to prevent reaching for unhealthy options when hunger strikes between meals. Strategically selecting and preparing nutritious snacks ensures that wholesome options are readily available to assuage hunger pangs between meals. By preemptively addressing cravings with healthful alternatives, individuals can circumvent impulsive consumption of calorie-dense snacks, thereby minimizing the likelihood of overeating.

• Emotional Awareness: Be mindful of emotional eating triggers and find alternative coping strategies such as going for a walk or practising relaxation techniques. Cultivating emotional awareness involves recognizing and understanding the triggers that prompt emotional eating episodes. By acknowledging these triggers, individuals can develop alternative coping strategies, such as engaging in physical activity or employing relaxation techniques, to manage emotional distress without resorting to overeating, thereby promoting healthier eating behaviours and mitigating the risk of excessive calorie intake.

• Avoid Distractions: Minimise distractions while eating, such as watching TV or using electronic devices, as these can lead to mindless overeating. Minimizing external distractions, such as watching television or using electronic devices, during meal times is crucial in preventing mindless overeating. Research suggests that distractions during eating can disrupt satiety signals and lead to increased food intake, contributing to overeating tendencies. Individuals who focus on the sensory experience of eating without distractions can better regulate their food consumption and avoid overeating.

• Regular Meals: Stick to regular meal times to maintain a consistent eating schedule, which can help regulate appetite and prevent excessive eating out of hunger pangs. Adhering to a consistent meal schedule helps regulate appetite and prevent overeating induced by erratic eating patterns. Studies indicate that irregular meal timing can disrupt hunger and satiety signals, leading to increased food intake and a heightened risk of overeating. Establishing regular meal times facilitates the synchronisation of metabolic processes and appetite regulation mechanisms, thereby promoting more controlled eating behaviours and reducing the likelihood of excessive calorie consumption.

• Healthy Substitutions: Replace high-calorie, low-nutrient foods with healthier alternatives that provide satisfaction without the excess calories. Opting for healthier food alternatives in place of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor options can aid in curbing overeating tendencies. By selecting foods that offer satisfaction and satiety without excessive calories, individuals can fulfil their nutritional needs while minimizing the risk of overconsumption. Incorporating nutrient-dense foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre promotes feelings of fullness and satiety, ultimately helping to prevent overeating and support overall health.


• Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how certain foods make you feel and adjust your choices accordingly. Choose foods that nourish your body and provide sustained energy.  Tuning into bodily cues and paying attention to how different foods impact physical and emotional well-being is essential for preventing overeating. By honing in on individual responses to food, such as feelings of energy, satisfaction, or discomfort, individuals can make informed dietary choices that align with their nutritional needs and preferences. Prioritizing foods that nourish the body and provide sustained energy fosters a balanced approach to eating, reducing the likelihood of overeating and promoting overall health and well-being.