Best Self Help Books for Emotional Eating (2026)

When you reach for food after a hard day, the best self help books for emotional eating deal with the feeling under the urge, not only the diet. This list is for adults who want a book on the emotional side of overeating, and we compared four titles by who each suits, page count, publication date and series position.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Breaking Free by Roth	9.7/10	Buy
2	Emotional Eater's Manual by Simon	9.7/10	Buy
3	DBT Workbook by Huang	9.6/10	Buy
4	Family Systems Guide by Grabowski	9.5/10	Buy

1

Breaking Free by Roth

Geneen Roth·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For adults whose binge eating follows a diet cycle and who want a method built on hunger signals and stopping points.

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Pros

• Covers eating without distraction, knowing when to stop and recognizing physical hunger, as the description lists
• 240 pages of techniques that the description names one by one
• The description says this edition includes a new introduction

Cons

• Published May 6, 2003, the oldest date among the four picks
• The description ties compulsive eating to spiritual issues, which some readers may not want as part of their plan
• The listing does not state whether it includes exercises or worksheets

2

Emotional Eater's Manual by Simon

Julie M. Simon·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For adults who eat to cope and want a mind-body-spirit plan that does not start from restrictive dieting.

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Pros

• 360 pages, with the five self-care skills, five body-balancing principles and five soul-care practices the description lists
• Starts from the idea that restrictive diets lead back to overeating, which suits readers who have tried many diets
• Published by New World Library, with a publication date of November 6, 2012

Cons

• The description says weight loss and better health will follow, which is the publisher's claim
• The mind-body-spirit framing may not suit a reader who wants only a behavioral method
• Published in 2012, older than the 2023 workbook in this list

3

DBT Workbook by Huang

Barrett Huang·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers who want worksheets and DBT exercises for emotional and stress eating, in a workbook format.

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Pros

• The description lists dozens of worksheets alongside the DBT skills
• 172 pages, a shorter read than the 240 and 360 page picks
• Part of an 11 book Mental Health Therapy series, so related titles are listed

Cons

• Listed as Book 8 of 11, so it is not the starting title of its series
• The description covers anxiety, depression and loneliness, which some readers should check against their own needs
• The description uses promotional lines, so check the contents on the listing before buying

4

Family Systems Guide by Grabowski

Amy Yandel Grabowski·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

For readers in eating disorder recovery and the therapists who work with them, using an Internal Family Systems framework.

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Pros

• 138 pages with a step-by-step framework, as the description says
• Ends each chapter with questions for the reader to answer
• Uses examples from the author's client cases and her own recovery, as the listing states

Cons

• Written for eating disorder recovery, so it is narrower than a general emotional eating book
• The description says it is essential to mental health professionals, so parts may read as clinical
• Covers eating disorders and recovery, mature themes that some readers will want to weigh first

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More picks to compare

• Emotional Eating by BarrettFor readers who want a 30-day tracker and a meal plan.Check on Amazon
• 8 Keys by FarkasFor readers who want the root cause of binge urges, from a clinical psychologist.Check on Amazon
• Binge Eating Workbook by SteinbachFor readers who want guided CBT, DBT and ACT exercises for binge urges.Check on Amazon
• Rewiring Emotional Eating by HayesFor readers who want habit-loop and neuroscience explanations for cravings.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the four picks lists a reading age or grade level, so the ranking rests on fit, contents and value. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best self help books for emotional eating

Start with the cause you want to address

Breaking Free by Roth focuses on the binge-diet cycle and hunger signals, while the Emotional Eater’s Manual by Simon adds body and spirit practices. If you want the cause and a method in one book, check each description for both.

Choose a workbook when you want exercises

The DBT Workbook by Huang lists worksheets and DBT exercises across 172 pages, which suits a reader who works through pages with a pen. Check the series position first, since this listing is Book 8 of 11. For more options by format, see our best workbook for binge eating list.

Match the book to your situation

The Family Systems Guide by Grabowski is written for eating disorder recovery and for therapists, so it fits a narrower need than a general emotional eating book. For broader choices on emotional control, see our best workbooks for emotional regulation list.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date: the Roth listing shows May 6, 2003, and the Simon listing shows November 6, 2012.
• For a series, confirm the position on the listing: the Huang workbook is Book 8 of 11 in its series.
• Compare the page count with how much you want to read: the Grabowski listing gives 138 pages and the Simon listing gives 360.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start if I am new to emotional eating?

Start with Breaking Free by Roth, a 240 page book on the binge-diet cycle and the signals of physical hunger. Choose it if you want a method rather than a workbook.

Which edition should I buy?

Check the publication date on each listing. The Roth listing shows May 6, 2003, and its description says this edition adds a new introduction.

Is a workbook better than a book for emotional eating?

It depends on whether you want exercises. The Huang workbook lists dozens of worksheets across 172 pages, while the Simon book is a 360 page guide with no worksheets stated.

Still deciding? Our top pickBreaking Free by Roth

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Related lists

See every Self-Improvement list and all Nonfiction lists.

More lists: eating disorders, self esteem workbooks and burnout.