Most people overeat because they have not effectively dealt with the emotions which often drive overeating such as boredom, anger, guilt, sadness, loneliness, unresolved stress etc. For this reason, I recommend that individuals both learn ways to better manage their emotions and also not eat when in an emotional state if possible- better to calm down, center yourself and eat from place a peace. There are also some behavioral things one can do to help with overeating. First, I recommend that one eat very slowly and mindfully- savoring each bit of food and really experiencing the taste. There is a lag from the time your stomach is full to the time your brain gets the message that you are full. By eating slowly you give your brain time to receive that message. For this reason it is also a good idea to wait 5 minutes before you go for a second helping; often times after the 5 minute wait, you will decide you are not up for seconds after all. People who mindlessly eat in front of the TV often end up eating on average 500 calories more than if they ate with no such distraction. So shut the TV off when eating. Next, put less food on your plate; most of us are conditioned by our parents when we were growing up that we had to "clean out plates" to be excused, and if we didn't then somehow people in other countries would starve. So the more you put on your plate, the more you are likely to eat as a result of this now sub-consciously driven program. Drinking a lot of water during the day (a good practice anyway) often curbs appetite as many people confuse thirst with hunger. Besides, water helps give a sense of satiety. About 30-45 minutes before a meal you can take a fiber supplement or a make whey protein pudding (just add a bit of milk to a scoop of whey protein) to further help with satiety. Unlike most people who recommend you eat when you are hungry, I recommend the opposite approach. If you know that you get hungry for dinner at 6pm, try eating at 5:30. You will eat a lot less if you eat when you are not hungry vs when you are. Stick to a higher protein, modified carbohydrate diet to avoid insulin spikes and subsequent blood sugar fluctuations. Eating a high protein, lower carb diet keeps blood sugar levels stable. Always eat your protein before your carbs at a meal to lower insulin spikes and lower the overall glycemic index of the meal. Also, it takes one third of calories in protein just to metabolize it whereas almost all the calories from sugar based foods are immediately available for fat storage. Last, take in a good vitamin/ mineral supplement or a whole food based source of nutrients. Surprisingly, many people have at least one if not more nutrient deficiencies; as a result the brain sends the message to the body to eat more in an attempt to obtain for the deficient nutrient(s) from the diet.