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Cognitive distortions are irrational, biased, or exaggerated thought patterns that negatively influence perception, decision-making, and emotions. These automatic, often unconscious, thinking errors can reinforce maladaptive behaviors, such as emotional eating or restrictive dieting, and contribute to issues like anxiety, depression, and disordered eating patterns. Examples include all-or-nothing thinking (“I ate one unhealthy meal, so my whole diet is ruined”) and catastrophizing (“If I don’t lose weight, I’ll never be happy”).
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2025). Cognitive Distortions. In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.
https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/cognitive-distortions-2/
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