How can I stop compulsive eating? Is there any hope?

When i was younger and more slender I got harred and followed alot by strange guys now I want to stop eating but I cant Im like a hoover and in my head sometimes I actually think you better eat more you dont want all that attention again. Ive gained 40 pounds and hate how I look so why cant I stop? Why do I binge ? Why am I afraid to be thin.Ok I know I had the heck scared out of me but being fat is unhealthy and Im ashamed of my self because I used to always really work hard to be attractive. I feel ugly and I just want to eat all the time. The thing is this is a bad example to my younger neices and I want to change.