Overeating due to boredom

The number of people in the world, and in the United States, who are overweight is of concern because of the significant impact obesity has on health and the associated medical costs. Many people overeat out of boredom. With nothing else to do, they rummage through the cupboards to fill the time.

Boredom is frequently considered inconsequential and has received relatively little research attention. Eastwood, Frischen, Fenske, and Smilek in 2012 stated that boredom can be conceptualized as the aversive experience of not being able to engage in a satisfying activity. “Boredom is the experience of being disengaged and stuck in an endless dissatisfying present”.

Boredom has also been associated with food cravings and overeating. Study found that an increased sense of boredom clearly promotes eating. (Eating and inflicting pain out of boredom Remco C. Havermans,Linda Vancleef,Antonis Kalamatianos,Chantal Nederkoorn, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University).

Heatherton and Baumeister in 1991 proposed an escape model in which the need to avoid negative self-awareness results in behavioral disinhibition and overeating. Likewise, difficulties in managing negative affect could lead to alternative and inappropriate ways of coping, like overeating.
Overeating due to boredom