NUI Galway looking for comfort eaters

Researchers at NUI Galway are looking into the reasons why people comfort eat.

They are examining the influence of emotional factors in childhood on comfort eating and weight, and are looking for volunteers to help with the research.

The researchers believe that children who have a hard time expressing their emotions may turn to food for solace.

Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire and/or take part in an interview.

Roisin Finnegan, Trainee Clinical Psychologist at NUIG, said: "There is a range of factors for why people comfort eat.

"What the research is saying more recently is maybe there is an association between how children learn to cope with their emotions in childhood and comfort eating in adulthood".