Teen Health Course 3

Introduction
Emotions can have a big impact on what and how you eat. It is quite common for people to eat when they are feeling sad, stressed, or bored. Unfortunately eating more than your body needs for fuel can be very unhealthy. On the Web site below, you will learn about the connection between emotions, and food and how to prevent and cope with emotional eating.

Link to explore: Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/MH00025

Directions

• Start at the Mayo Clinic Web site.
• Read through the page on emotions and food.
• Take notes as you read.
• When you are done reading, answer the questions below.
• Finally, using the information from the links, create a cartoon strip in which an emotional eater learns how to cope with his or her feelings without using food. The cartoon should tell a brief story and have a message at the end.

1.			Why do some people eat when they are feeling stressed, angry, boredom or lonely?
2.			Why do scientists think that some people use food to comfort themselves?
3.			How can overeating temporarily relieve stress?
4.			Why is it a bad idea to eat to relieve stress?
5.			What are four of the eight ways to avoid emotional eating?