An estimated 50 million Americans experience this type of pain. Australian researchers say this is why you might be reaching for more snacks.
At any given time, more than 50 million Americans—roughly 20% of U.S. adults—contend with chronic pain, national data suggests. Chronic pain can have a direct impact on aging well, as 2024 research from the American Heart Association found that experiencing chronic pain was associated with a “larger loss in healthy life expectancy.”
Chronic pain management methods vary but can include options such as physical therapy, medications, medical procedures, or lifestyle changes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But clinical psychologists in Australia recently found another common way people attempt to handle their symptoms, saying that 70% of people with chronic pain—defined as pain lasting three months or longer—use sweet or salty foods to cope at least once a month. Meanwhile, 64% said they do so at least once every two weeks.
The findings of the 2025 study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, aren’t necessarily surprising, according to one of the study’s co-authors. Says Toby Newton-John, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia: “People who live with pain every day need to find ways of coping. We think about medication, physiotherapy or heat packs as pain management strategies, but we don’t usually think about food in the same way.”
For the study, the research team recruited 141 Australian adults who had been “diagnosed with chronic pain by a healthcare professional.” The participants were given questionnaires regarding their eating habits in the past three months and how it related to their pain. Probing the psychology behind the habit, the team also learned that subjects ate for three key reasons:
- To have a pleasant experience (52%)
- To provide a distraction (50%)
- To reduce emotions (39%)
Highlighting that “chronic pain and obesity have been described as ‘two colliding epidemics,'” the study found that about 40% of the study’s participants met the criteria for obesity. Reflexive eating can lead to weight gain, which can in turn increase one’s risk of chronic illness, reduce quality of life, and contribute to an early death, as noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But high-calorie foods may also have a mild pain-relieving effect, explains study co-author, Amy Burton, PhD. “Short-term, high-calorie food makes people feel better. It reduces pain symptoms and enhances pain tolerance,” says Dr. Burton, a clinical psychology lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney. “Long-term, it can fuel weight gain and inflammation, which increases pressure on joints and makes pain worse.”
The researchers hope their discoveries spark new conversations around incorporating dietary advice into pain management programs, offering “alternatives to food coping mechanisms.” For those looking for relief, the Mayo Clinic’s recommendations for chronic pain management include, but are not limited to: physical activity, breathing exercises, practicing mindfulness, getting plenty of sleep, and eliminating “unhelpful substances” such as alcohol and tobacco.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your support system, including your family, friends, and healthcare professionals. “Although you may want to be left alone during bouts of chronic pain, lean in to support from others,” says the clinic’s experts.
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
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