The Relationship Between Emotional Eating and Depression: Intervention Strategies and Future Research Directions

Abstract: In recent years, emotional eating, defined as the act of consuming food as a means of coping with negative emotions, has garnered significant attention from the psychological community. As such, the paper examines the intricate relationship between emotional eating and depression. Through a review of the existing literature, emotional eating is explored as a potential trigger and exacerbator of depressive symptoms, especially when individuals use food as a coping mechanism for negative emotions. Besides, it discusses the psychological mechanisms behind emotional eating, including difficulties in emotion regulation and the use of inadequate coping strategies, highlighting the particular significance of these factors in depressed patients. The paper evaluates the efficacy of current interventions for reducing emotional eating and alleviating depressive symptoms, with a particular emphasis on the potential that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and positive thinking interventions have demonstrated in improving emotion regulation and reducing the impact of negative emotions on eating behavior. The analysis of the efficacy of these psychotherapeutic approaches in practice presents a theoretical foundation for future intervention strategies and supports the design of more targeted treatment plans in clinical practice, so as to assist depressed patients in improving their mood regulation and reducing the frequency of emotional eating, thereby enhancing their quality of life.