Thekabarnews.com—Nearly half of the respondents in an Indonesian eating-behavior survey reported using food to regulate their emotions. They did this rather than responding solely to physical hunger.

The Health Collaborative Center (HCC) conducted its 2024 Mindful Eating Study online among 1,158 adults aged 20–59 across 20 Indonesian provinces.

The survey found that 47% of respondents showed emotional-eating behavior. This includes turning to food when experiencing stress, anger or other difficult emotions.

Research associate Yoli Farradika, M.Epid., helped analyze the survey. The frequently cited 49% figure does not represent the proportion of all Indonesians who eat for emotional reasons. Instead, respondents under 40 accounted for approximately 49% of those identified as emotional eaters.

Because researchers conducted the survey online and did not publicly provide detailed national weighting information, the findings describe the respondents. The results should not be treated as a precise estimate for Indonesia’s entire population.

Emotional eating refers to eating in response to feelings rather than physical hunger. Food can provide temporary comfort or distraction when someone feels sad, anxious, tired, bored or stressed.

“Emotional eating is when people use food to cope with and regulate their emotions, rather than eating because they are hungry and need nutrition,” HCC founder and lead researcher Ray Wagiu Basrowi said.

Common signs can include unplanned snacking, eating without feeling physically hungry or repeatedly choosing highly palatable foods for short-term emotional relief.

The biological process is more complex than a simple “dopamine boost.” Stress hormones, appetite regulation and the brain’s reward system can influence eating decisions. Responses also vary: some people eat more under stress, while others lose their appetite.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 studies involving 119,820 adults found a small, but measurable association between stress and increased food intake. Stress was also associated with greater consumption of unhealthy foods. It was linked to lower consumption of healthy foods.

The HCC survey identified adults under 40 and women as groups more likely to report emotional eating. Younger respondents had approximately twice the risk recorded among older participants.

“People in this age group were twice as likely to become emotional eaters,” Basrowi said.

Researchers also highlighted restrictive dieting, lifestyle pressures, mental-health difficulties and unsupported body or dietary standards on social media as potential contributing factors. These associations do not prove that any single factor directly causes emotional eating.

Occasional comfort eating does not automatically indicate an eating disorder. Repeated episodes can contribute to excessive calorie intake, emotional distress and difficulty maintaining a balanced diet.

A clinical evidence review found associations between emotional eating, unhealthy dietary patterns, weight gain, depression and anxiety. Researchers observed that numerous existing studies were cross-sectional and failed to demonstrate causation.

The Mayo Clinic recommends recognizing emotional triggers, recording food and mood patterns, checking whether hunger is physical, and developing alternative ways to manage stress.

Anyone who regularly experiences loss of control, unhealthy eating or significant emotional distress should consult a doctor, registered dietitian or mental-health professional.