Eat yourself happy

New research suggests many teenagers comfort eat when depressed. And this is news?

According to a survey conducted by the Priory Group, which treats people with eating disorders, 10million adults in the UK turn to food when they have an argument or when they're not getting on well with their partners. The 15-24 age group was found to be particularly prone to responding to emotional traumas through eating. The comfort food of choice is chocolate, followed by 'junk food'.

Priory Group says this is a 'form of self-medication'. 'These people are desperate to fill the void created by loneliness, low self-esteem, depression and insecurity', says Dr Peter Rowan, a consultant psychiatrist for Priory.

Now, while it is clear that a small minority of people do have eating disorders, it's quite another thing to suggest that a large proportion of the population are therapy cases who need to be weaned off their bad habit. If eating the odd big meal or packet of biscuits can take the edge off your pain, that seems like a pretty good short-term solution.

It could be that the Priory is trying to drum up a bit of business: 'Don't eat that hamburger, kids - it'll make you a lonely fatty. Have a consultation with us instead.' The Priory has a point when it says our relationship with food is screwed up, but therapy is not the answer.

Food and eating are constantly problematised: processed food, obesity, anorexia, additives, pesticides... the list goes on and on. In a society where the worst-case scenario is the first thing that springs to mind, something as simple and positive as eating gets casually referred to as a 'timebomb'. It's enough to make you turn to drink.

Lovesick teens turn to junk food, BBC News, 1 August 2005