Obesity: A Disease Episode 114: Clinical Conversations: Emotional Brain Training
8 snips
Jul 17, 2025 
Laurel Mellin, PhD, a retired UCSF faculty member and expert in Emotional Brain Training, discusses the connection between stress and overeating. She emphasizes the importance of addressing physiological stress to combat obesity effectively. Mellin introduces techniques to rewire emotional responses, promoting healthier eating habits. She highlights the role of compassionate clinicians in guiding patients through this process, advocating for a holistic integration of behavioral approaches in obesity treatment for lasting weight loss.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Patient Story Highlights Stress Eating
- Dr. Pennings shared a case of a 68-year-old woman who gained 100 pounds after her husband's death and struggled with self-criticism despite weight loss success.
- She experienced stress eating especially in the evenings, illustrating common emotional challenges in obesity treatment.
Stress Overload Drives Overeating
- Chronic stress overload in the brain is the root cause of overeating and obesity rather than psychological or behavioral issues.
- Effective treatment requires addressing physiological stress to help patients regain control and lose weight joyfully.
EBT Rewires Brain Stress Circuits
- Emotional Brain Training (EBT) directly rewires stress circuits in the brain to control stress chemistry contributing to overeating.
- Pairing weight loss drugs with EBT addresses obesity's biological root and reduces self-blame in patients.