Joe comes from a background of food.  His Italian family revolved around meals; the grocery shopping, the preparation, and the family gathering around the table.  His very large extended family regularly engorged themselves at Sunday dinners.  He remembers the adults in his life praising his huge appetite which made him think that eating would earn him praise and love.  But the reverse became true for Joe as he grew into his teens, when classmates would reject him due to his obesity.