How does the mother use food as her weapon from A Child Called It?

In "A Child Called It," the mother uses food as a means of control and punishment, often denying her son, Dave Pelzer, basic nourishment as a way to exert power over him. She would withhold meals or give him only scraps, creating a stark contrast between his hunger and the abundance of food available to the rest of the family. This manipulation not only physically starves him but also emotionally tortures him, reinforcing his feelings of worthlessness and abandonment. Food becomes a tool of abuse, symbolizing her dominance and his suffering.