ABSTRACT
Clients differ in their knowledge of psychological factors related to their compulsive eating. While one client may tell you that she is aware of all sorts of emotional issues that trigger her overeating, another client may state that all is fine in her life, and that she is unsure as to why she reaches for food when she is not hungry. We never assume that compulsive eaters must have serious, psychological problems that create the need to reach for food. In fact, some clients who seek treatment specifically for their overeating find that once they end their dieting patterns that stemmed from cultural pressures to be thin, their anxiety levels decreased significantly. At the same time, many clients do use food as a form of affect regulation. As their compulsive eating diminishes, they must confront problems directly by learning new ways to manage uncomfortable feelings.
