The Pace Sisters, an acclaimed gospel singing group, have struggled with their weight for years. The seven siblings admit to overeating, centering relationships around food and living with weight-related health issues -- in fact, during filming for "Iyanla: Fix My Life," sister Melonda Pace suffered a stroke and was unable to continue. The stakes are higher than ever for these overweight women, so Iyanla Vanzant visited the Pace sisters to help them understand what's really behind their weight issues.


Though she's not a nutritionist or trainer, Iyanla says it's clear to her that what's hurting this family isn't what they're eating -- it's what's eating them. In this clip from "Iyanla: Fix My Life," six of the seven Pace sisters set out on a brisk walk with Iyanla when sister June suddenly slows down.


"What happened, Miss June?" Iyanla asks, staying behind while the rest of the Pace sisters continue the walk.


"The doctor told me don't do any walking, but I do try and it's hurting," June explains.


Sensing an emotional component to this story, Iyanla poses a poignant question. "Tell me what it's like living in that body. What is that like?" she asks June.


"It's like I'm looking at a stranger because I'm not used to being this big," June admits, also sharing that she's been carrying extra weight ever since giving birth to her daughter more than 30 years ago. "When I gained those 40 pounds I thought my life was ended."


This confession is the start of what Iyanla has been trying to get the Pace sisters to understand and acknowledge about the root of their weight issues. "The weight is covering other stuff up," Iyanla says gently.


"I get it," June says quietly.


"Iyanla: Fix My Life" airs on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.


Related on HuffPost:


Dr. Oz's Tips To Stop Emotional Eating




  • If you're eating to deal with stress, what you really need is mental distraction -- anything fun that takes your mind off your worries. In a study that looked at how nurses cope with stress, distraction was an effective method. Instead of relying on food, call a friend or listen to music to get your mind off troubling thoughts.




  • If you're eating to feel better emotionally, here's some good news: You don't need a lot of comfort food to improve your outlook. Go for quality, not quantity. Research has found that just a bit of chocolate may trigger a release of mood-boosting opioids. And a 2004 study showed that around two ounces of chocolate can have a positive effect on mood.




  • Finally, beware of food pushers, people who encourage you to try the cookies they baked or have another serving of cake. Turning them down can be difficult, so if a simple "No, thank you" doesn't work, ask to take some home instead -- where you can decide how much to taste.