For many people boredom can trigger behaviors for which there is a strong immediate biological basis for pleasure. The obvious one is eating. Others include alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and sex.

He was shocked when his weight reached 360 pounds, so he decided to make a diet change as part of his weight-loss strategy.

Weight loss is complex, often impeded by factors beyond diet and exercise. Fitness coach Emma Hooker's story highlights this; ...

Alarmed by his growing weight and the toll it was taking on his health, Tom Carroll lost 132 pounds in a unique way: eating a Chick-fil-A salad every day. He’s been following that routine for ...

3. Anxiety: Feeling anxious or stressed, which can trigger hunger. 4. Boredom: Eating out of boredom or habit. 5. Emotional eating: Using food to cope with emotions like sadness, stress or happiness.

Carroll, 32, says he’s not bored eating the same thing every day — a strategy dietitians say can have important advantages — noting he just really likes the taste. The 680-calorie salad ...