In these cases, food is a way to relieve stress and, of course, modern life can be stressful. It is understandable that these people have to eat a lot. From a more soulful perspective, eating is a joyful part of our experience, but only to the degree that it also nurtures the body. Carrying extra weight can provide protection for a person who has an unconscious desire to keep other people at a distance. People who have been abused or hold feelings of inadequacy may have this unconscious desire.
Food can also represent love.
A person who feels unsupported or unloved may unconsciously use food as a way to fill these basic needs. These people need to learn to love themselves and express their love in ways that do not cause the physical body to suffer. There are also many unconscious reasons people eat that are unique. Of course, all of these things are beyond our normal awareness, so most people do not even know what motivates them in this or most areas of their lives. Nonetheless, the unconscious mind is the best place to start if you want to make lasting changes.