It really is about the shame and inability to deal or override the emotional stress from shame. Certain problems are products of bad social dynamics. Many hoarding behaviors arise from abandonment. Watching the reality show My 500lb life, I was struck by how many morbidly obese people were sexually abused as children. It shouldn't have been surprising though, given the shame of sexual abuse and the added lumps of contempt thrown at victims. That's not the only reason people become morbidly obese, but it is a striking correlation. It also suggests a better strategy for success. Deal with ending shame, heal trauma, decouple food as a mechanism for dealing with shame, get a buddy to help keep you from slipping into old patterns, find some exercise you can stick with, relearn to eat with joy without overdoing it.