Word of the Week: Kummerspeck

Anyone who has ever seen a romantic comedy is probably familiar with the sight of a love-sick individual slouching on the sofa with a tub of ice cream on their lap, brooding over a relationship gone bad. It's often during times of extreme sadness and grief that only certain fatty, sugary and salty foods will do.

Kummerspeck literally means "grief bacon," and refers to the extra weight you might put on after a bout of emotional eating. Those suffering grief or heartbreak aren't the only ones at risk of Kummerspeck. Many people also turn to food for comfort when they're going through periods of boredom, stress or exhaustion.

Of course no matter how creamy the ice cream or how crispy the bacon is, it probably won't offer a permanent solution. The snacks might dull the pain for a few minutes, but the resulting Kummerspeck, on the other hand, is likely to stick around a little longer.