Emotional eating is defined as increased food consumption in response to negative emotions, and has been linked to weight concerns, mental health concerns, and disordered eating behaviours. Effective interventions have been developed that address emotional eating, namely to improve weight loss. Such interventions are based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which encourages tolerance of internal cues, such as emotions, and external cues, such as food.~Emotional eating, however, is not exclusive to those who struggle with their weight. Many individuals maintain a normal weight despite engaging in emotional eating. These individuals still consume an excess of high calorie (for which they somehow eventually compensate), high fat, and high sugar foods as part of their emotional eating. Unhealthy dietary habits such as these have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, as well as health concerns including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Individuals with normal weight are not eligible for ACT programs described above, despite the increased risk of health concerns associated with emotional eating.~The present study aims to test the feasibility and acceptability of a one-day ACT workshop to reduce emotional eating and improve health that is not focused on weight loss as its primary outcome, and rather targets all individuals who engage in emotional eating.
Emotional eating is a behaviour that has been linked to weight concerns, mental health concerns, and disordered eating. Effective interventions have been developed to treat emotional eating, however these exist solely in the context of promoting weight loss. Emotional eating is not exclusive to those who struggle with weight and thus interventions are needed that target those who engage in emotional eating regardless of their weight status. The present study aims to do so through the implementation of a one day Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop for emotional eaters.