By Chronic pain is something that millions of people around the country have in common. What they do regarding their diet when they are experiencing pain differs. Some people may reach for comforting foods, while others feel they can’t eat at all. Researches set out to look at what adults do in terms of eating when they are experiencing chronic pain. The results, whether surprising or not, should be helpful in determining how to help people make healthier choices.
In the March 2019 issue of the journal “Appetite,”
Researchers set out to learn more about the eating habits of those with chronic pain (1). They wanted to find out if people eat more, less, or about the same when they are experiencing pain. To conduct the study, they got survey information from 219 adult participants who have chronic pain and take prescription opioids.
Participants answered a question regarding whether they eat less, have an unchanged appetite, or eat more when they are experiencing pain. They also provided demographic information to the researchers. Those conducting the study established a baseline that would allow them to compare BMI groups, and calculated the relative risk rates.
What the results of the study shows are that nearly 47 percent of participants eat less when in pain, 38 percent report having an unchanged appetite, and nearly 12 percent report that they eat more to feel better. Both undereating and overeating can be problematic for those with chronic pain. Undereating may prevent people from obtaining the nutrients that they need, while overeating may lead to weight gain problems and obesity.
Those who have chronic pain and opt to eat more to seek comfort are at a risk for unhealthy weight gain. Add to that risk that there is a good chance they are not reaching for anti-inflammatory foods, and they could be making the situation worse. This is important information for those who help people with chronic pain, and for those who experience it.
Those who help others with their chronic pain management may want to provide information regarding healthy eating, especially during the time they feel they want to eat more for comfort. Those who experience chronic pain and are used to seeking comfort in eating more should consider finding other comforting activities they can engage in, such meditation or breathing exercises, to avoid weight gain risks.
Source:
Appetite. Overeating during painful episodes among adults with chronic pain. March 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30831191
