Emotional eating as a barrier to weight management: a phenomenological study among obese Iranian women

Emotional eating, defined as eating in response to emotional distress rather than physiological hunger, is a major psychological barrier to effective weight management. Despite its high prevalence among women with obesity, limited research has examined this behavior in the Iranian context. This study aimed to explore how emotional eating hinders weight management efforts among obese Iranian women. A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological design was applied, following Diekelmann’s seven-step method. Seventeen women aged 27–45 years with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 were purposively recruited from two Iranian cities. Data were collected through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and analyzed interpretively to extract themes and subthemes representing participants’ lived experiences. This study involved 17 obese women with a mean age of 38.6 ± 5.9 years and a mean BMI of 31.8 ± 1.8. Four main themes emerged: (1) emotional eating as compromising roles, (2) problematic eating behaviors, (3) facilitating living environment, and (4) harmful consequences. Emotional eating served as a coping mechanism to manage negative emotions, foster self-compassion, and provide temporary relief. However, it was accompanied by uncontrolled, compulsive, and secretive eating patterns, and reinforced by environmental factors such as constant exposure to food during meal preparation. These behaviors impaired self-efficacy in weight management and increased stigma, perpetuating a cycle of overeating and emotional distress. Emotional eating fulfills transient psychological needs but undermines sustained weight control and emotional stability. Addressing emotional and contextual determinants through culturally sensitive interventions such as mindfulness, emotion regulation, and self-compassion training can improve the effectiveness of obesity management programs for women in Iran.