Summary: New research finds that more than two-thirds of people living with chronic pain turn to comfort foods—especially chocolate—to cope during flare-ups. Eating provides short-term pleasure, distraction and even mild pain relief, likely because calorie-dense foods affect the brain’s reward and pain systems. While this can ease immediate suffering, the pattern can lead to weight gain and increased inflammation that worsen pain over time, highlighting the need to include dietary guidance and healthier coping strategies in pain management programs.
The study emphasizes the tension between short-term relief and long-term harm: comfort eating can reduce emotional distress and temporarily raise pain tolerance, yet repeated use of food as a coping tool can create a self-reinforcing cycle of weight gain, inflammation and escalating pain.
Key Facts:
- Emotional relief: 68% of participants reported using food to cope with pain, mainly for pleasure or distraction.
- Biological reward: High-calorie foods may produce mild analgesic effects through biochemical pathways in the brain.
- Vicious cycle: Comfort eating can provide temporary relief but may increase inflammation and chronic pain over time.
Source: University of Technology Sydney
More than two-thirds of people with chronic pain reach for chocolate or other comfort foods to cope, according to new research showing that eating brings pleasure, distraction and emotional relief during pain flare-ups.
Chronic pain—defined as pain lasting three months or more—affects about one in five people worldwide and represents a major public health challenge. Using food to manage pain is common, but relying on calorie-dense comfort foods can contribute to weight gain and related health problems, which in turn can intensify pain.
Professor Toby Newton-John, Head of the Graduate School of Health at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), says that understanding why people with chronic pain turn to food is essential for better management and prevention of harmful cycles.
“People living with persistent pain need effective coping strategies,” Professor Newton-John explains. “We often focus on medication, physiotherapy or heat packs, but food is rarely considered a formal pain-management tool—even though two-thirds of our sample reported turning to food at least once every two weeks during flare-ups.”
The research, titled Eating to Feel Better: The Role of Comfort Eating in Chronic Pain, appears in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. Authors include Claudia Roche, Dr Amy Burton and Professor Newton-John.
Researchers surveyed 141 adults with chronic pain about their reasons for comfort eating during flare-ups. The most commonly reported motive was “to have a pleasant experience” (51.8%), followed by “distraction” (49.6%) and “to reduce emotions” (39%).
Dr Amy Burton, a lecturer in clinical psychology at UTS, notes that the appeal of a small, pleasant experience is a powerful driver when daily life is dominated by pain.
“Comfort eating wasn’t only about numbing negative feelings or distraction,” Dr Burton says. “For many people, having a pleasurable food moment adds something positive to an otherwise difficult day, and that can be a compelling reason to reach for comfort foods.”
There may also be biological mechanisms at work. Evidence from human and animal studies suggests that sugary or high-fat foods can reduce pain sensitivity to a small degree. In animal experiments, for example, rats in pain will actively seek out sugar, indicating both psychological and biological drivers behind comfort eating.
However, this comfort carries risks. Nearly 40 percent of the study participants met criteria for obesity, and Professor Newton-John warns that food-driven relief can create a cycle in which weight gain and inflammation increase joint stress and pain, making it harder to escape the pattern.
“In the short term, calorie-dense foods can reduce pain and boost tolerance,” he says. “Over time, though, they can promote weight gain and inflammation that worsen pain and trap people in a difficult spiral.”
Current pain management programs typically emphasize medication, physiotherapy and activity pacing. The study suggests these programs should also include dietary guidance and practical alternatives to eating for emotional relief—such as relaxation techniques, pleasant nonfood activities and behavioral strategies to recognize when food is being used as a coping mechanism.
Professor Newton-John stresses that the goal is not to blame people with chronic pain. Managing daily pain is extremely challenging, and short-term comforts are understandable. The focus should be on increasing awareness and offering clinicians and patients healthier tools to break the cycle.
Key Questions Answered:
A: Eating provides distraction, emotional relief and a brief pleasurable experience during flare-ups, which can make day-to-day life feel more manageable.
A: Both. High-calorie foods may have mild pain-relieving effects through biochemical pathways, while also offering psychological comfort and distraction.
A: Repeated comfort eating can lead to weight gain and increased inflammation, which can worsen chronic pain and create a challenging cycle to break.
About this diet and pain research news
Author: Leilah Schubert
Source: University of Technology Sydney
Contact: Leilah Schubert – University of Technology Sydney
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Eating to Feel Better: The Role of Comfort Eating in Chronic Pain” by Toby Newton-John et al., Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings.
Abstract
Eating to Feel Better: The Role of Comfort Eating in Chronic Pain
Previous studies have shown that people with chronic pain often turn to comfort eating, but the specific functions this behavior serves have been unclear. Given the link between higher body weight and worse pain outcomes, understanding these eating behaviors is important.
This study investigated the perceived functions of pain-induced comfort eating among adults with chronic pain. A total of 141 participants completed an online survey reporting their reasons for eating during flare-ups.
More than two-thirds of respondents reported engaging in comfort eating in response to pain. The most commonly endorsed reason was “to have a pleasant experience” (51.8%), followed by “distraction” (49.6%) and “to reduce emotions” (39%).
The findings confirm that comfort eating is common among people managing chronic pain and clarify the motivations behind it. Because comfort eating can affect weight and inflammation—factors that influence pain—further research should examine how these behaviors interact with long-term pain outcomes and how interventions might offer healthier alternatives.