i read a interesting article about what sumiko tan termed "emotional hunger".
she writes about food being both friend and foe in emotional hunger, which experienced mostly by women, especially when they are feeling unhappy or upset, or stressed, and causes cravings for food items which are almost always delectably and sinfully rich in sugar, fat and salt. succumb though to these lust and one ends up feeling unhealthy, guilty and perhaps even disgust of oneself.
she goes on to explain that food high in sugar fat content lights up the brain's dopamine pathway. dopamine is a pleasure inducer which is also produced during sex - unless i'm grossly mistaken - which really is some potent stuff and helps to dispel some of the negative feelings that one might be feeling. otherwise, emotional hunger, or emotional eating, more specifically, could simply be a means to feel good, much like for example, alcohol or sex.
strange though, it seemed to me, that few men experience emotional hunger. after all, are not the men who are deemed to be (mostly by condescending and smug women) emotionally deficient and having issues facing up to our feelings just because we do not talk about them to just any willing pair of ears (and even some reluctant ones). yet we are not the ones seeking solace in, of all things, food, and above that, highly processed, unhealthy food.
oh no you emotional eating females out there, you are no better than us, nor do you have any right to place yourselves on a pedestal just because i play football for my endorphin fix. no, might i add, you bingers are worse.