Excess weight gained from emotional overeating, literally 'grief bacon'.

Origin: The word 'Kummerspeck' originates from the German language, combining 'Kummer' (grief) and 'Speck' (bacon). The term uses the concept of 'Speck' metaphorically, indicating weight gained not from necessity but from comfort eating.Historical and Cultural Context: First attested in the 20th century, 'Kummerspeck' reflects a cultural understanding of how emotions like sadness or stress can lead to changes in eating behavior. It is a vivid example of German compound word formation.Evolution: While the components 'Kummer' and 'Speck' have long existed in German, their combination into 'Kummerspeck' is relatively modern, reflecting changing attitudes toward emotional health and eating.Modern Relevance: Today, 'Kummerspeck' is used humorously to describe the all-too-common phenomenon of emotional eating, and it has gained recognition even in non-German speaking contexts.

In 2004, 'Kummerspeck' was voted one of the most beautiful German words by the Goethe Institute.