Psychologists and diet experts have identified dozens of emotional eating types based on the reasons that cause emotional eating but many of the emotional eater types described fall into 5 basic categories that have more to do with physiology than with psychology.

Emotional Eating to Relax is the type of emotional eater that uses food to minimize the physical effects of chronic stress. This type becomes very uncomfortable when experiencing physical symptoms of the stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine, etc. and subconsciously use food to turn off the fight or flight response. Food requires digestion which is part of the parasympathetic system (PNS) and opposes the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for the fight or flight response. The best quick fix for this type of emotional eater is some R&R. A 10 minute nap, getting to bed earlier, meditation, practicing restorative yoga, or breathing exercises all work much better than food to keep those stress hormones in check.

Hormonal Stress Eater eats when their hormones are out of balance due to PMS, contraceptives, post pregnancy, menopause, HRT, and above average consumption of estrogenic foods. This type unconsciously eats to achieve hormonal balance and often falls into several other categories including nutrient deficient and self medicating. The best quick fix for this type is 4 weeks on the Anti-Estrogenic Diet. If this doesn't work a visit to your doctor along with hormone tests will be necessary to restore hormonal balance.

Nutrient Deficient Emotional Eaters have struggled with weight issues and spent all their lives on restrictive diets or exercise regimen. Any weight loss success they experienced was an uphill battle and also short lived. Their bodies are starving for nutrients and they think they eat for emotional reasons but they really eat because they're starving for nutrient dense foods. The best quick fix for this type is the Metabolic Typing Test followed by a year of metabolic typing and metabolic conditioning workouts.

Power Emotional Eater eats to feel strong, in charge, and powerful instead of powerless. This type usually feels physically smaller than most people, has boundary issues, and is often a pushover, door mat or victim of physical abuse. She/he uses food as a way to assert their physical presence or as a barrier against others. The best quick fix for this person is an empowering circuit workout or more empowering types of cardio workouts like martial arts, trail running, or a regular routine of pull-ups and pushups.

Self Medicating Stress Eater can also be described as the classic emotional eater who uses food to change or enhance their mood. They eat when they are bored, lonely, depressed, happy, sad, excited, angry, upset, etc. To this type food is like a powerful drug and many holistic experts would agree that food can be a powerful mood altering drug. The best quick fix for this type of emotional eater is distracting and engaging activities. Create then print out 2 menus of mood altering activities and then tape them to your fridge or pantry so you choose those activities instead of food.
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