Keeping It Real with Jillian Michaels

How to Beat Food Addiction by Understanding the Mental Health Connection, with Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson

Dec 11, 2023

Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson, cognitive scientist specializing in mental health and weight loss, discusses beating food addiction and reversing leptin resistance. They explore the addictive nature of food, dopamine's role in cravings, and the connection between mental health and food. The podcast also touches on the physiology of addiction, the debate whether it's a disease or adaptation, and promoting Dr. Thompson's new book and fitness app.

01:19:58

Episode guests

Susan Peirce Thompson

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Brightline Eating offers a structured approach to address food addiction and create healthy eating habits through establishing clear boundaries and planning meals in advance.

Food addiction involves both substance and behavioral addiction, triggered by processed foods rich in sugar and flour, and can be addressed by eliminating addictive foods and addressing leptin resistance.

Adopting Brightline Eating may lead to temporary withdrawal symptoms and behavioral challenges, but the program provides support and strategies to navigate these challenges and resume effectively.

Deep dives

Brightline Eating: Overview and Program Structure

Brightline Eating is an online program that offers a structured approach to address food addiction and create healthy eating habits. The program helps individuals establish clear boundaries, known as Brightlines, to eliminate addictive substances like sugar and flour from their diet. It focuses on creating automaticity and removing decision-making around food by planning meals in advance. The program also emphasizes the importance of social support, self-compassion, and quick recovery in case of relapse.

Introduction

5min

Introduction to Cognitive Science and Dr. Thompson's Background

16min

Understanding the Dual Nature of Food Addiction

4min

Understanding the Addictive Nature of Food and its Mental Health Connection

5min

Leptin Resistance and Food Addiction

6min

Understanding the Physiology of Food Addiction

25min

Food Addiction: Disease or Adaptation?

13min

Promoting a New Book and Fitness App

2min

Today’s guest is Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson, a New York Times bestselling author and cognitive scientist specializing in the connection between mental health and weight loss. In this episode, Dr. Thompson outlines how to beat food addiction - the only addiction that is both a substance AND behavioral addiction - overcome psychological eating, and reverse leptin resistance for lasting weight loss.

Guest Links:

Her new book, ON THIS BRIGHT DAY: A Year of Reflections for Lasting Food Freedom

Website: https://brightlineeating.com/

Facebook: BLE - https://www.facebook.com/BrightLineEating

Instagram: BLE - https://www.instagram.com//brightlineeating/

Twitter: SPT - https://twitter.com/DrSPThompson

YouTube: BLE - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNuQvVX_3SzNALJlvieH-Q

Food addiction quiz mentioned in this episode: FoodFreedomQuiz.com

Previous episodes mentioned:

How to Beat Any Addiction, with Dr. Anna Lembke, Author of Dopamine Nation

For 25% off The Fitness App by Jillian Michaels, go to www.thefitnessapp.com/podcastdeal

Jillian Michaels Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1880466198675549