Addictive eating patterns, which may or may not lead to obesity, cause a range of health problems that may have long-term effects. Tobey Geise, a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner (NLP), master practitioner of hypnotherapy, and Reiki master, had a twenty-six-year struggle to release an addiction to bulimia.

This struggle began when she was nine years old, and her doctor said she was fat. Rebelling against severe food restrictions, she discovered bingeing and purging as a “solution.” This pattern continued until she was 35 and confessed about her bulimic addiction to members of her personal growth group. This confession led her to a therapist associated with Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and, eventually, to joining that organization.