You will never conquer a fear by avoiding it. For example, some people have agoraphobia: a fear of going outside or too far from their homes.

Would you suggest that someone with agoraphobia spend the rest of their lives inside, avoiding the bad feelings that going outside triggers? Or would you encourage them to practise going outside to slowly reduce their fear?

The same applies to people who have a weight-gain phobia. By gradually letting go of restricting (which is akin to staying “safe” at home), you can discover that you don’t need to restrict to control your weight.