Many people who live with long-term pain often reach for chocolate or other tasty foods to help them feel better.
A new study found that more than two-thirds of people with chronic pain eat comfort foods to cope when the pain gets worse. These foods offer them pleasure, distraction, and help lift their mood.
Chronic pain is a big health issue. Around one in five people in the world suffer from it. This kind of pain lasts for three months or more and can affect everyday life. When the pain flares up, many people try to feel better by eating.
While this may help in the short term, it can lead to weight gain. Gaining too much weight can make the pain even worse and bring more health problems.
Professor Toby Newton-John from the University of Technology Sydney says it’s important to understand why people turn to food when they are in pain. Most people think of pain treatments as taking medicine, doing physical therapy, or using heat packs.
But food is also something people use to manage pain. In fact, two-thirds of the people in the study said they used food at least once every two weeks when they felt more pain.
The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, looked at 141 adults living with chronic pain. The researchers asked them why they eat when the pain gets worse. The top reasons were to enjoy a pleasant moment (about 52%), to distract themselves (about 50%), and to reduce negative feelings (about 39%).
Dr. Amy Burton, a clinical psychology lecturer at UTS, said the findings were surprising. Comfort eating wasn’t just about stopping bad feelings or keeping the mind busy. For many people, eating something nice was the best part of their day. When you’re in pain all the time, even a little pleasure can feel very important.
There might also be a biological reason. High-calorie foods may reduce pain a little. Animal studies show that even rats in pain will go looking for sugar. This means that certain foods might have pain-relieving effects, not just emotional benefits.
Still, there is a downside. About 40% of the people in the study were obese. Professor Newton-John warns that using food for relief can create a cycle that’s hard to break. Eating high-calorie food can ease pain for a while. But in the long run, it can lead to weight gain and inflammation. This puts more pressure on the body, especially the joints, making the pain worse.
Most pain management programs focus on medication and exercise. This study shows that food habits should also be part of the conversation. People need help noticing when they’re using food to cope with pain. Then, they can learn other ways to feel better, like relaxation techniques or activity pacing.
Professor Newton-John adds that people shouldn’t be blamed for wanting quick relief. Living with daily pain is very hard. Sometimes, medication doesn’t help enough. So, it makes sense that people look for comfort. But being aware of this pattern is important. It helps both patients and doctors find healthier and more lasting solutions.
In short, eating comfort food may seem like a harmless way to feel better during pain, but it can lead to a dangerous cycle of more pain and health issues. Better awareness and more support can help break this cycle.
If you care about pain management, please read studies about Scientists find a new drug for chronic nerve pain and findings of Scientists find a new, less-invasive way to tackle knee pain.
For more about pain, please read studies about Scientists find a new way to manage knee pain and findings of Promising new drug offers hope for chronic nerve pain relief.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
