Emotional Eating in Midlife: The Psychology Behind Food, Stress, and Weight Gain

Описание: Emotional eating isn’t a lack of discipline — it’s psychology.

In this episode of Asking for a Friend, Michele Folan sits down with emotional eating expert, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author Tricia Nelson to unpack the deeper psychology behind emotional eating — and why it often becomes louder and harder to manage in midlife.

This conversation explores why food becomes a coping mechanism for stress, emotions, people-pleasing, and perfectionism, especially during menopause and major life transitions. Tricia explains why traditional diets fail emotional eaters, how emotional eating differs from hunger, and what actually helps women build a healthier, more peaceful relationship with food.

Rather than focusing on what to eat, this episode focuses on why we eat — and how understanding the psychology of food can be the missing piece for women struggling with weight gain, weight loss resistance, or lifelong dieting cycles.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What emotional eating really is (and what it’s not)

Why emotional eating often intensifies in midlife and menopause

How stress, boundaries, and people-pleasing influence eating behaviors

The connection between emotional eating, sugar, and alcohol

Why willpower and restriction don’t work long-term

How women can better understand their relationship with food

If you’ve ever felt confused about why food feels harder in midlife — even when you “know what to do” — this episode offers clarity without shame.

🎧 Listen to the full episode right here
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Free live masterclass with Tricia Nelson on January 29th at 2:30pm PT / 5:30pm ET, focused on helping women stop emotional and binge eating around sugar in a sustainable, compassionate way.

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Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.