by Patricia Watson

Created on: January 24, 2010

Feeling lonely and isolated, people often turn to food as a replacement for human contact. There is comfort in eating those wonderful desserts that your mom used to bake. Loneliness is not the cause of obesity, but it certainly contributes to this growing health risk.

The obese person may have put themselves in a state of isolation from others. Self imposed banishment from social gatherings, is a form of subliminal punishment the overweight person uses to avoid facing their issues.

Humans need interaction with other humans. We are a social breed and without a sense of belonging, we will reach out to inanimate objects to console ourselves. Food is one of those objects that is a natural replacement for love and friendship. People use food to reward or punish and to fill the gaps in a lonely life.

The obese person may find it easier to stay home, than go out and enjoy the company of other people. Perhaps they have given up all hope of losing weight, and simply eat the wrong foods out of a feeling of hopelessness.

Unfortunately, the obese are often the object of scorn and ridicule. People will stare and point and this can make the obese feel even more isolated from the mainstream of society. It is a vicious cycle of needing to lose weight, but not knowing where to turn for love and acceptance. Food becomes family, friend and lover, to the lonely and obese person.When a person has nothing to look forward to in their lives, loneliness can become a huge factor in their weight gain.

Tragedy and personal loss can trigger overeating. The person, who has just been cheated on or had their marriage end, may feel there is no reason not to overeat. Reaching out to food for comfort is instilled in humans from infancy and beyond. As children we were rewarded with treats for good behavior.  Rewarding ourselves with our favorite food treat, can take us back to a simpler time in our lives, when we felt loved.

 Loneliness may not cause obesity, but it certainly can contribute to the process. The key is to recognize just how lonely and isolated you are feeling. Get out of the house and find like minded individuals to socialize with.

The next time you find yourself reaching out to food for love, try picking up the phone and calling a friend or family member. You may be surprised to find out you are not as isolated and alone as you think.

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