What is auto-eating?

Eating without actually feeling hungry is auto-eating. Most often, it is women who do it. They may not even be aware they are consuming so many calories. A study found that boredom can lead women to overeat, even slip into an auto-eating mode. Men also auto-eat but women are more at risk, especially if they are upset. As much as a quarter of the food eaten each day can be contributed to auto-eating. The term was coined by nutritionist Mary Strugar.