A Taste of Life by Sara Paretsky

Quite a nasty little story but a compelling one nonetheless; Daphne is an able worker but a compulsive overeater. Her problems appear to stem from her mother, who encourages Daphne’s anxiety in order not to be outshone by her.

Perhaps the most interesting idea here is the vicious circle that can emerge, with compulsive behavior leading leading to relationship damage, and vice-versa.  The descriptions of crazed eating were brilliant - food in every cupboard and drawer, shopping at several different stores in order to conceal her habits, pretending to be abstemious in company and then stuffing her face when alone. The mother was unrealistically single-minded in her selfishness, however.

Available as part of 'A Taste of Life and Other Stories'.