Episode 25: Emotional Eating Isn’t About Food | Dr Anita Johnston on Body Image, Cravings & What Your Body Is Really Saying
In Episode 25 of the Self Led Woman Podcast, I’m joined by depth psychologist and eating disorder specialist Dr Anita Johnston, author of Eating in the Light of the Moon, for a conversation that will completely shift the way you understand emotional eating.
Because for most women, the struggle with food isn’t actually about food.
Listen to the full episode
If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles of food guilt, confusion, or disconnection from your body, this episode will help you see your experience in a new light.
🎙️ Listen to Episode 25: Emotional Eating Isn’t About Food on the Self Led Woman Podcast.
Why emotional eating is misunderstood
When you’re stuck in cycles of emotional eating, restriction, or food guilt, it’s easy to assume the problem is your behaviour.
That you need more discipline.
More control.
A better plan.
But as Dr Anita Johnston explains, these patterns are rarely random or dysfunctional.
They are meaningful.
They are often your system’s way of coping, regulating, or communicating something deeper that hasn’t yet been met.
Cravings are not the problem
One of the biggest shifts in this conversation is understanding that cravings are not something to fight.
They are something to listen to.
Dr Johnston uses metaphor to explain how food can symbolise deeper emotional needs.
For example, certain foods may be connected to comfort, warmth, or safety. Others may be linked to stimulation, expression, or relief.
This doesn’t mean every craving has a direct or obvious meaning, but it does point to something important:
Your body is communicating with you.
And when that communication is ignored, overridden, or judged, the cycle around food often intensifies.
Understanding “soul hunger”
Not all hunger is physical.
Physical hunger can be satisfied with food. It comes on gradually and settles once you’ve eaten.
But many women are experiencing a different kind of hunger entirely.
A deeper sense of longing that food alone cannot resolve.
Dr Johnston refers to this as “soul hunger.”
This can show up as a need for rest, connection, creativity, expression, or emotional support. And when those needs aren’t acknowledged, they often get redirected toward food.
Not because food is the answer, but because it’s accessible.
What’s really happening during “fat attacks”
Many women experience moments where their focus becomes intensely fixated on their body.
You might suddenly feel uncomfortable in your skin. Critical. Hyper-aware of your appearance.
Dr Johnston describes these as “fat attacks.”
But what’s important to understand is that these moments are rarely about your body itself.
They are often triggered by something deeper.
A feeling of vulnerability.
A lack of control.
An emotional experience that feels unsafe or overwhelming.
The mind shifts the focus onto the body because it feels more tangible. More manageable.
But addressing the body will never resolve what’s actually underneath.
Your body is not working against you
One of the most important takeaways from this conversation is this:
Your body is not the problem.
The patterns you’ve been trying to control, whether it’s emotional eating, restriction, or food obsession, may actually be your system’s way of trying to support you.
When you begin to see these behaviours through that lens, something shifts.
Instead of fighting yourself, you begin to understand yourself.
And from there, change becomes possible in a very different way.
Connect with Dr Anita Johnston
You can find Dr Anita Johnston and her work here:
Website: https://dranitajohnston.com/
Instagram / Facebook: @dranitajohnston
Light of the Moon Cafe: https://lightofthemooncafe.com/
Instagram / Facebook: @lightofthemooncafe
Ai Pono Hawaii
Instagram / Facebook: @aiponohawaii
📖 Purchase her book Eating in the Light of the Moon
Resources:
Free Food & Metaphor Guide
Cracking the Hunger Code (special offer)
New Crescent Moon (interactive course)
Disclaimer
This podcast and blog content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or psychological advice. If you are struggling with your relationship with food or your mental health, please seek support from a qualified professional.
