Overcoming overeating can be a challenge for many people. Food meets many needs beyond the physical. Many social activities are organized around food. For some people, food is a way to deal with unmet emotional needs. Learning to overcome overeating requires looking closely at your eating patterns, lifestyle and emotional needs.

From a physical standpoint, your body needs a certain number of nutritious calories to give you energy and keep you healthy. The problem occurs when you eat more than your body can metabolize. One of the ways to stop overeating is to slow down during mealtimes. It takes about 20 minutes for your body to send a signal to your brain indicating that you're full. When you take longer to chew and eat your meals, you allow yourself to feel satiated before consuming too much food.

Another reason that some people overeat is that they are truly hungry. Skipping breakfast is a common cause of eating larger lunches and dinners. When you don't eat in the morning, it's easier to snack in the late morning or order an extra large meal at lunch. If you tend to skip breakfast due to lack of time in the mornings, wake up 15 minutes earlier to ensure that you will prepare a quick breakfast.

Many people eat to fulfill emotional needs. In some cases, the food just tastes good and provides a quick boost in mood. The challenge is that eating for this reason results in temporary enjoyment. If you find that you eat when you're bored, worried or stressed, pay attention to your emotional state when you consciously reach for food on a full stomach. Think of other activities that you enjoy and do those instead. Listening to music, calling a supportive friend, watching your favorite movie or going for a long walk in scenic surroundings are all good ways to unwind that do not involve food.

Some social situations make it difficult to say no to food. It may be that you are often a guest in people's homes or that your friends or co-workers always gather in restaurants. It can be difficult or even impolite in some situations to be the only one not eating.

If you find that many of your social gatherings revolve around food, try to plan other activities with the people you love. Working out together, going to the movies or hanging out in bookstores are other activities that you can do together that aren't centered on food.

Overcoming overeating requires getting to the bottom of what drives you to eat. If you are truly hungry, eat regular meals and pay attention to portion size. When eating to fulfill an emotional need, see if you can get those needs met in ways that don't involve food. Also find social activities that are more active in nature and less food-centered.