I agree that faulty coping mechanisms contribute to weight gain.

I am one of those VERY SENSITIVE people. I can look at a person and see their sadness (if present) at such a deep level. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a morbidly obese person with such sadness in their eyes. Like they are screaming (i'm self destructing and I don't know what to do!).

For me seeing a morbidly obese person (not so called 20 lbs overweight I am talking about a person who has to take deeper breaths because the fat surrounding their heart and lungs is causing their lungs to be compressed. This causes me to feel the same sympathy I feel for a person that has a drug problem, or an alcohol problem, or a mental illness.

There are happy "fat" people. They say "I'm happy with my body" they embrace their weight and feel sexy. But then, since there are so many problems that come with being significantly overweight--joints, blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure--they definitely COULD be happier.

And then of course there is the issue--how did they get so big? What is it that causes them to continue eating beyond the signal of satiety? what else are they getting from food besides satisfaction of hunger?

It is a physiological fact that fattening foods release endorphins. That chocolate bar really does make you feel good. That cookie really is making that report seem a lot less daunting. So yes definitely coping mechanisms are at play.