This is the phrase that describes the eating disorder known as bulimia. One of the most famous bulimics was Princess Diana. Bulimia is often the response to stress and depression.
Bulimics derive comfort from food.
They gorge themselves, preferably on high-calorie junk food. This gives them a high helping them to forget their troubles for a little while. Bulimics tend to be closet eaters. They gormandize secretly and then feel ashamed of their gluttony. They then induce themselves to vomit or take laxatives to purge themselves of the feeling of guilt.