At parties, receptions, etc., take a plate and put the amount of food on the plate that you want for this event. When the plate is empty, consciously tell yourself that you have had the food you wanted and now can turn your attention to other elements of party fun. If you find yourself tempted to eat between meals, write about your thoughts and feelings for at least ten minutes before eating to determine whether your desire to eat is for physical or emotional reasons. You should definitely eat when you are physically hungry. Whether the specific profile fits or not, those who feel the pressure and pulls of the cycle as described above need not feel helpless.
Help is available and the cycle can be broken.