Surreal illustration of emotional eating and rapid consumption.

Are You a Speed Eater? The Link Between Rapid Eating and Emotional Habits

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research highlights how fast eating may be connected to emotional and external eating triggers, especially for women seeking weight loss surgery."

We all know that eating too fast isn't great for us, but new research is revealing just how deep the connection between speed eating and our emotions can be. For many, especially women struggling with obesity and considering weight loss surgery, understanding this link is a game-changer.

A recent study explored the eating habits of women with severe obesity, uncovering a significant relationship between rapid eating and emotional as well as external eating triggers. These triggers include stress, sadness, boredom, or even external cues like seeing or smelling food.

This article dives into the study's findings, explaining why rapid eating is more than just a bad habit. We'll explore how it intertwines with our emotions and environment, potentially impacting our weight loss journey and overall health. If you've ever wondered why you can't seem to slow down your eating, you're in the right place.

The Surprising Connection: Speed Eating and Your Feelings

Surreal illustration of emotional eating and rapid consumption.

The study revealed that women who eat quickly are more likely to eat in response to their emotions. Think about it: are you more prone to grabbing a quick, large meal when you're stressed or upset? This isn't just about poor impulse control; it's about how our bodies and minds react to emotional cues.

External eating, or eating triggered by external cues like the sight or smell of food, also plays a significant role. Imagine walking past a bakery and suddenly craving a pastry, even if you weren't hungry. This type of eating is closely linked to speed eating, as those external triggers often lead to quick, unplanned consumption.

Emotional Eating: Eating in response to feelings like stress, sadness, or boredom.
External Eating: Eating triggered by external cues such as the sight or smell of food.
Reduced Chewing: Fast eaters tend to chew their food less, impacting satiety signals.

Why does this matter? Because understanding these connections is the first step in changing your eating habits. Recognizing when and why you're eating quickly can help you develop strategies to slow down and make more mindful choices.

Taking Control: Steps to Slow Down and Eat Mindfully

The good news is that you can change your eating habits. By understanding the connection between speed eating, emotional triggers, and external cues, you can take steps to slow down and eat more mindfully.

One of the key findings in the study was the importance of chewing. Slower eating is associated with increased chewing, which helps improve sensory awareness of food and reduce overall food intake. Try counting the number of chews per bite or setting a timer for your meals to encourage a slower pace.

If you're struggling with your weight or considering bariatric surgery, remember that addressing your eating habits is crucial. By learning to recognize and manage your emotional and external eating triggers, you can pave the way for a healthier, happier relationship with food. Don't hesitate to seek support from a registered dietitian or therapist to help you develop personalized strategies for mindful eating.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s11695-017-2890-4, Alternate LINK

Title: Rapid Eating Is Linked To Emotional Eating In Obese Women Relieving From Bariatric Surgery

Subject: Nutrition and Dietetics

Journal: Obesity Surgery

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Claire-Charlotte Canterini, Isabelle Gaubil-Kaladjian, Séverine Vatin, Amélie Viard, Aurore Wolak-Thierry, Eric Bertin

Published: 2017-09-04

Everything You Need To Know

What is speed eating?

Speed eating, as highlighted by recent research, refers to the habit of consuming food at a rapid pace. It's more than just a dietary habit; it's frequently linked to emotional and external factors. The significance lies in its potential impact on weight management and overall well-being, especially for individuals considering or undergoing weight loss interventions. This can lead to overconsumption and make it difficult to recognize satiety signals, thus impacting the weight loss journey.

What is emotional eating and why is it important?

Emotional eating, as defined in the context, is the tendency to consume food in response to feelings such as stress, sadness, or boredom. It is a significant concept because it often coexists with rapid eating. When individuals experience negative emotions, they may turn to food as a coping mechanism, leading to faster eating patterns and potential overeating. Understanding Emotional Eating is crucial in developing strategies to manage eating habits.

What is external eating and how does it impact eating habits?

External eating is the act of eating triggered by cues in the environment, like the sight or smell of food, not necessarily driven by internal hunger. The significance is that external cues often lead to unplanned and rapid consumption. Fast eaters are more susceptible to external triggers, which further reinforces the speed eating cycle and potentially impedes weight loss efforts. It highlights the importance of being mindful of one's environment.

How are speed eating, emotional eating, and external eating connected?

The connection is that individuals who eat quickly tend to be more likely to respond to their emotions when eating, as well as external cues, which can lead to consuming more food more rapidly. The habit of speed eating may also result in less chewing, potentially affecting the body's signals of fullness. The combination of emotional and external triggers increases the likelihood of fast eating behaviors, which in turn can lead to overeating and negatively affect health.

How can someone address rapid eating habits?

You can start by recognizing the triggers that lead to faster eating. Pay attention to situations where you tend to eat quickly. Then, you can develop strategies to slow down, such as putting down your fork between bites and focusing on the act of eating. The ability to slow down and make mindful choices is the key step in achieving healthier eating habits. Being mindful of emotional and external eating is very important to change the habit.