<s>[INST] What are the causes of emotional eating? [/INST] The causes of emotional eating are complicated and very diverse, each case must be analysed on an individual basis.  The emotions that most frequently trigger an episode of emotional eating are boredom, loneliness, sadness and anxiety. In such a situation, food acts as a means to immediately relieve the negative or unpleasant emotion, even if only temporarily. When this behaviour becomes established as a regular method for dealing with difficult situations or negative emotions then it is called emotional eating. Source: Clinic Barcelona. Link: https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/assistance/diseases/obesity/frequent-asked-questions. Field: Endocrinology. Disease: Obesity </s>