Post-election blues are causing some people to gain the 'trump 10,' say weight loss doctors

With more than half of voting Americans frustrated and upset about Donald Trump‘s presidential win, people are looking for comfort — and many are finding it in food. Dubbed the “Trump 10” by

the _Boston Globe,_ the trend is surfacing in weight loss clinics across the country. Dr. Richard Weil says he has seen it in some of his patients at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Weight Loss

Program in New York. “People are very troubled and stressed and falling back into old habits and eating to calm themselves,” Dr. Weil, M.Ed., CDE and director of the weight loss program,

tells PEOPLE. “Anxiety and depression has emerged or been exacerbated. It’s reminiscent of post-traumatic stress. This is no joke. We are taking it very seriously.” Dr. Weil says he’s been

talking to his patients about how to temper their overeating since the election. “We’ve been spending lots of time on this in the context of an event you have no control over externally —

the outcome — but you have control over how you respond,” he says. “Part of our approach has been to not let this beat you; that is, do what you can to take care of yourself.” He also adds

that drinking alcohol only makes matters worse. “Alcohol is a depressant and it causes disinhibition; that is, you are less inhibited and more likely to lose control over calorie intake,”

Dr. Weil says. “People eat more when they drink, plus the calories in the drink itself.” RELATED VIDEO: STRESSED OUT?! ANNA KAISER HAS ADVICE TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK To get through the grieving

process, he recommends that people take a small step back from election news. “Turn off the computer at 10 p.m. and go to sleep instead of staying up to all hours and reading about it

online. Stop talking about it all the time. Do not under any circumstance make this dinner conversation,” Dr. Weil suggests. While you can’t live in a bubble, he says, thinking about it less

will help decrease stress and consume fewer calories. In time, Dr. Weil says the feelings of depression will lessen. “Over time people will get back control and feelings will calm down

some. People here in our program have already started to recover a little and found ways to manage,” he says. “It may still sting for a long time to come, but if you start now, if you start

practicing now on how to get back control, then it will be easier later on. Stay strong.”