Dr. Phil McGraw has helped thousands of viewers feel better about themselves. Now, he's combating a growing problem in American -- obesity with "Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge."

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE Find out more. Click here. Are You Ready? Take The Test Keep An Online Weight Loss Diary Diary Share Your Weight Loss Stories In Our Discussion Area

McGraw said he's determined to change the way people think about losing weight.

Participants in the challenge will be asked to change the way they think about their health, body, life and entire future.

McGraw said his challenge is an alternative to the false promises of most diet plans that waste time and money. McGraw's plan promises to give results that last a lifetime.

More than 7,000 people sent in entries to be considered for "Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge."

The TV challenge was launched in conjunction with McGraw's new book, "The Ultimate Weight Solution: 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom."

A former Michigan state policeman and a metro Detroit couple will be among the frustrated dieters turning to the straight-talking host for a new way to lose weight.

"I've had this book in my mind and my heart for 30 years," McGraw said.

"I grew up an athlete, I've been around exercise all my life, and it's been a passion for me for a variety of reasons. I have morbidly obese people all through my family now, and frankly, buried my dad eight years ago from heart failure secondary to chronic obesity. I see what it does to people's lives."

After working with the overweight population for 30 years, he wrote "The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom."

"I've found that core group of things that you absolutely have to have to get it under control and keep it under control, and those are the things that are in this book," McGraw said.

Why Do You Eat? Take The Test

More than 50 percent of all overweight people use food to cope with depression, anger and stress. Are you among them? You can't change what you don't acknowledge.

Write next to each statement if you do the action "frequently," "occasionally" or "never." Please be brutally honest in your answers, then add up your score at the end.

I munch when I get bored.
I like to eat with my friends, even if I'm not hungry.
I eat so the cook will not be offended.
I eat when I get depressed.
I eat when I'm lonely.
I eat when I get anxious about something.
There are times when my eating is out of control.
I like to nurture other people with food.
I will eat my way through a difficult time (like a divorce, a job loss, an illness or a broken dream).
I eat when I feel my energy go down.
I crave some foods.
I just like to have something in my mouth.
I eat even if I'm not hungry.
I like to celebrate with food.
I think about food a good deal of the time.
I have a tendency to binge.
I eat to be polite.
I'm sometimes embarrassed by how much I eat.
I eat to relieve stress.
I get upset if I overeat.
I eat because I get angry.
I'm displeased with my weight, but I overeat anyway.
I always clean my plate so as not to waste food.
I need high levels of sugar in my system.
Eating is my main enjoyment in life.

For each "frequently" you checked, give yourself two points, for each "occasionally," give yourself one point, and for each "never," give yourself zero points. If your overall score is more than 35, it's likely that you have serious trouble with emotional eating and must get your self-defeating pattern under control. If your score is between 15 and 35, you struggle with emotional eating at times, and you could benefit from learning new coping strategies.

-- From "Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight-Loss Solution"