2nd Edition of International Obesity and Metabolism Conference 2026

Abstract

Abstract:

While many obesity interventions emphasize metabolism and mindset, they often overlook the deeper forces that drive what many call disordered eating: trauma, identity conflict, unresolved emotional pain, and belief systems forged in childhood. In this presentation, I share my lived experience as a woman who gained and lost more than 700 pounds over a lifetime, until I broke free from food addiction—not through willpower or weight loss alone, but through personal storytelling, emotional excavation, and a redefinition of self.

By shifting from asking “What am I eating?” to “What am I thinking? What am I feeling?” What do I Really Want? I uncovered how early experiences of abuse, shame, and ignorance shaped how I viewed and used food. Using a method I call the BRAND NEW™ framework, I reprogrammed not just my habits but my identity—facing the beliefs that kept me stuck and embracing new behaviors that aligned with the healthy woman I longed to become.

This talk explores the intersection of obesity, trauma, and identity—and offers a new paradigm for recovery that empowers individuals to become the authors of their healing stories. My journey may not be clinical, but it is transformational, and it offers a powerful adjunct to traditional treatment approaches. I invite researchers, clinicians, and advocates to consider how storytelling, emotional literacy, and narrative therapy can complement science in the fight against obesity and food addiction.