As a clinical psychologist, I work with overweight people who want to lose weight. I treat the underlying cause of why people overeat and the weight usually comes off. People overeat because they feel deprived in some area of their lives. They are usually deprived of love, attention and healthy relationships. Most people who overeat do so because they were or are being abused.
Abuse can be sexual, physical, verbal, or neglect.
Overweight people lack loving relationships and have relationships with food instead. Food just lies on the plate and won t reject or criticize you like people. It is safe to eat and not safe to be close to people. In choosing food you are hiding out from the pain you experienced with people. Whenever unacceptable feelings pop up, overweight people eat to push down these feelings because they do not want to feel them.