OVERSTIMULATION OF EMOTIONS AND EATING PATTERNS: A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Emotional overstimulation—characterized by heightened, prolonged, or poorly regulated emotional states—has emerged as a critical factor influencing maladaptive eating patterns. Contemporary lifestyles marked by chronic stress, social isolation, digital overload, and emotional demands increase vulnerability to emotion-driven eating. This paper examines how emotional overstimulation contributes to emotional eating, hedonic food consumption, binge eating behaviours, and disrupted appetite regulation. Drawing from psychological theories, neurobiological models, and empirical research, the review highlights how negative and positive emotional overload alters reward sensitivity, impairs self-regulation, and promotes preference for hyperpalatable energy-dense foods. Understanding this relationship is essential for developing holistic, emotion-focused interventions for disordered eating and obesity.