Summary: Cheat eating is when people eat meals apart from their regular meals. A new study shows that cheat eating is fairly common in Western countries. Most young adults report one or more cheat meals a week. Sadly, doctors often don’t ask about cheat meals. So they miss part of what causes obesity or metabolic disorders in young adults.
Obesity is rising around the world, but more so in rich nations like the US, where most people are obese. Data shows that more than 70% of US adults are obese or overweight. Poor food choices and bad eating patterns are the main cause of obesity and metabolic disorders. What is worrying is that obesity is rising in children, teens and young adults. It also means eating disorders are rising in young adults. That is because they are not just choosing the wrong foods. They are also eating when they should not.
Cheat eating is common in Western countries. Most young adults report one or more cheat meals a week. Sadly, this unhealthy habit can lead to obesity and metabolic disorders. One study looked at how common cheat eating is in Canada. Most cheat meals added 1000 to 1500 calories of high-calorie, unhealthy food. This can lead to serious health problems, including some that call for pancreatitis pain management. It is vital to tackle cheat eating to prevent obesity and related health problems.
One study looked at how common “cheat eating” is in Canada. The results were published in the Journal of Eating Disorders. The study looked at data on 2,700 teens and young adults from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors. The data covered eating habits people reported in 2021-22.
The study had many interesting findings. First, it found that “cheat eating” is relatively common among young adults. It found that most young adults engaged in cheat eating at least once a week or more. However, what was worrisome was the number of calories in each such cheat meal. Researchers found that when cheat eating, people generally choose high-calorie food. Thus, on average, a cheat meal adds 1000 to 1500 calories.
The study found that “cheat eating” was a bit more common in men (about 60%) than in women (about 54%) and transgender people (53%). But men were more likely to eat healthy food and exercise. So men’s cheat meals were rich in protein. Women’s cheat meals were more likely to be rich in carbs and fats. The reason is simple. Men ate cheat meals to meet the higher nutrition needs of exercise.
People who eat cheat meals are more likely to have other eating disorders, like binge eating, compulsive eating and so on. Some also found it harder to control the urge to eat more. These findings matter in many ways. Many doctors don’t know about cheat meals. So when they treat people with metabolic disorders, they focus on regular eating habits. They often leave cheat meals out of the picture.
Many obese or metabolically unhealthy adults may report regular eating habits that sound more or less fine. But “cheat eating” is a very common problem. So to beat obesity and the pandemic of metabolic disorders, we need to cut cheat eating and the eating disorders that go with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Are cheat meals linked to eating disorders?
Yes. A Canadian study of 2,700 teens and young adults was published in the Journal of Eating Disorders. People who ate cheat meals were more likely to also have other eating disorders, such as binge eating and compulsive eating. Some also found it harder to control the urge to eat more.
What happens to your body when you have a cheat meal?
A cheat meal is usually made of high-calorie, unhealthy food. In the Canadian data, one cheat meal added 1,000 to 1,500 calories on average. Week after week, that extra load feeds obesity and metabolic disorders. It can lead to serious problems, including pancreatitis.
How often do young adults have cheat meals?
Often. Most young adults in the study reported at least one cheat meal a week. Cheat eating was a bit more common in men (about 60%) than in women (about 54%) and transgender people (53%). The numbers come from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors, which used eating habits reported in 2021-22.
What is an example of a cheat meal?
A cheat meal is food eaten apart from a person’s regular meals, and it is usually high in calories. What went on the plate differed by sex. Men’s cheat meals were more often rich in protein, tied to the nutrition needs of exercise. Women’s cheat meals were more likely to be rich in carbs and fats.
Why don’t doctors ask about cheat meals?
Many doctors are not aware of them. When they treat obesity or a metabolic disorder, they focus on the patient’s regular eating habits, which may sound more or less fine. The cheat meals sit outside that picture, so the doctor misses part of the cause. Asking about them belongs in every metabolic visit.
Medical Disclaimer: Keep in mind that the content provided is not direct medical advice for patient care, but is provided for thoughtful discussion.
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
