In this episode of Food Junkies Podcast, Molly and Clarissa sit down with clinical psychologist, researcher, and international food addiction advocate Dr. Jen Unwin to unpack a trifecta of groundbreaking developments in the field of Ultra-Processed Food Use Disorder (UPFUD). If you’ve been craving science-backed insight, real recovery stories, and practical hope for the future, this conversation delivers.

Together, we explore:

🧠 Two Major Research Milestones

• The Delphi Consensus Paper, which brings together 40 global experts to define and validate Ultra-Processed Food Addiction as a diagnostic concept
• The 12-Month Outcome Study, which demonstrates remarkable long-term improvements in food addiction symptoms and mental wellbeing across diverse international recovery programs

🌍 The Upcoming International Food Addiction & Comorbidities Conference (IFACC 2025)

Hosted in London this September, this two-day event will bring together clinicians, researchers, and the recovery community to spotlight UPFA’s role in mental health, metabolic illness, trauma, and more.

🗓 This Saturday’s Live Virtual Event – April 26

Don’t miss the Food Relationship Fix hosted by Dr. Tro Kalayjian and team—including talks from Dr. Jen, Dr. Rob Cywes, and more. All proceeds go directly toward supporting IFACC 2025 and furthering food addiction advocacy.

Whether you're a clinician, a coach, someone in recovery, or simply food-addiction-curious, this episode is packed with inspiration, cutting-edge data, and an invitation to step into hope. Dr. Jen’s message is clear: Recovery is not just possible—it’s probable.

🧭 Key Links:
• 🎟 Register for IFACC 2025
• 🎥 Join the Food Relationship Fix virtual event this Saturday (April 26)
• 📄 Read the abstract of the provisionally accepted Delphi Consensus Paper (coming soon!)
• 📄 Read the 12-Month Outcome Study on Food Addiction Recovery

💌Please email questions, concerns, and topics to foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this extraordinary episode, Food Junkies host Dr. Vera Tarman turns the mic on herself—joined by Swedish trailblazer Bitten Jonsson—for a deeply personal, no-holds-barred conversation on their parallel journeys through food addiction, recovery, and advocacy. With over 60 years of combined experience in addiction medicine, Vera and Bitten walk us through the moments they first recognized their struggles with food and sugar, the evolving science of addiction, and how their professional paths have shaped the global conversation around Ultra-Processed Food Addiction.

💡 What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

• When and how Vera and Bitten each first realized they had a problem with food

• Bitten’s early days applying addiction models to sugar use in Sweden

• Vera’s turning point from bulimia and obsession to scientific clarity

• The evolution of treatment approaches—from restrictive diets to holistic care

• Why the addiction model matters—and how it still faces resistance

• Stories of frustration, discovery, and determination

• The roots of their pioneering programs, books, and diagnostic tools

• What’s next for food addiction science and how professionals can catch up

• And yes, the dogs that helped heal their hearts 🐶

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• “Food addiction” is too broad—refined sugar and flour are the real psychoactive substances

• Early recovery often mimicked diet culture—freedom came through connection and knowledge

• Recovery is not just physical or behavioral—it’s metabolic, neurological, psychological, and spiritual

• Both Vera and Bitten believe we’re at a turning point: a renaissance in food addiction awareness and professional training

🌍 Where Do We Go From Here?
Vera and Bitten envision a future where every doctor, nurse, therapist, and policymaker is trained in recognizing and treating food addiction. They call for compassion, clarity, and connection in how we talk about—and treat—this misunderstood condition.

🐾 And yes, there are dogs. Because sometimes, unconditional love and a wagging tail really can help us stay the course.

🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone.
Let’s end the shame—and start the healing.

🌱Transform Within IFS Workshop with Vanessa Kreddler: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/transform-within

💌 Email us at foodjunkiespodcast.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this powerful and deeply nuanced episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab welcome back Dr. David Wiss to explore one of the most important—and often misunderstood—topics in the field: the intersection of food addiction and eating disorders.

With his unique background in both nutrition and public health, Dr. Wiss walks us through the historical divide between the food addiction and eating disorder communities, the philosophical and clinical tensions between rigidity and flexibility, and how trauma, ACEs, and access to food complicate both diagnosis and treatment.

Whether you're a clinician confused about how to distinguish between binge eating, bulimia, and food addiction, or someone in recovery navigating your own lived experience, this episode is a must-listen.

👥 Topics Covered:

Is it an eating disorder, food addiction—or both?

Historical roots of the FA vs. ED divide

Why rigidity is seen as both the problem and the solution

The role of trauma, ACEs, and structural inequality

How clinicians can use timelines and clinical intuition in treatment

Why a continuum model offers more inclusive care

Ethical considerations in individualized vs. cookie-cutter treatment

The Wise Mind Nutrition app is a middle-ground tool for healing

💬 Key Quotes:

“Everyone has a different neuropsychiatric profile… There isn’t a manual that’s going to work for all people.” – Dr. David Wiss
“We’re not just dealing with food. We’re dealing with trauma, access, systems, and stories.” – Molly Painschab
“Both food addiction and eating disorders have valid truths—and both need a seat at the table.” – Dr. Vera Tarman

🧠 About Our Guest: Dr. David Wiss
Dr. David Wiss is a registered dietitian nutritionist and mental health researcher who has worked with more than 1,000 patients over the past 12 years. He is the founder of Nutrition in Recovery, and a global leader in the field of nutrition for addiction recovery and disordered eating.

Dr. Wiss holds a PhD in public health from UCLA, and his work bridges the gap between neurological, psychological, behavioral, and nutritional sciences. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, contributed six book chapters, and continues to challenge outdated approaches to mental health and nutrition.

Dr. Wiss is also the creator of the Wise Mind Nutrition app—an innovative platform that provides education, food logging, reflection tools, and clinician interaction for individuals working on their mental wellness through nutrition.

He is passionate about social justice, the gut-brain connection, and empowering people to heal themselves through informed, compassionate, and personalized care.

📍 Learn more: https://wisemindnutrition.com

📲 Resources Mentioned:

Wise Mind Nutrition App

From Evolution to Revolution: Food Addiction in Context (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

The D-FANG Model: Disordered Eating and Food Addiction Nutrition Guide

“Separating the Signal from the Noise” – David Wiss’s trauma-informed research

📣 Connect with Us:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Send your questions, reflections, or topic suggestions—let's keep the conversation going!

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this powerful episode of Food Junkies, we dive deep into the intersection of food insecurity and food addiction with special guest Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis. Dr. Parnarouskis, a researcher specializing in food addiction and public health, shares groundbreaking insights on how socioeconomic factors and access to food impact addiction-like eating behaviors.

From her research at the Food and Addiction Science and Treatment Lab to her latest studies on the role of stress, intermittent access to food, and ultra-processed food consumption, Dr. Parnarouskis sheds light on the social justice implications of food addiction. Together, we explore the barriers faced by food-insecure individuals, how stress amplifies cravings, and what clinicians, policymakers, and society can do to create lasting change.

🔑 Key Topics Discussed:

• Dr. Parnarouskis' journey into food addiction research
• The strong link between food insecurity and food addiction (people experiencing food insecurity are almost four times more likely to struggle with food addiction)
• How stress, financial fear, and limited access to whole foods reinforce addiction-like eating patterns
• The withdrawal experience in food-insecure populations and how it mirrors other addictive substances
• Why policy-level interventions—like expanding SNAP benefits, increasing access to whole foods, and regulating the food industry—are critical for preventing and addressing food addiction
• The importance of harm reduction and meeting individuals where they are in recovery
• How clinicians can screen for food insecurity and adjust interventions to be more compassionate and effective

🌍 Why This Conversation Matters:
Food insecurity is not just about hunger—it’s about the quality of food available, the stress of not knowing where your next meal comes from, and the long-term effects of relying on ultra-processed foods. Dr. Parnarouskis emphasizes that food addiction is not just a personal responsibility issue—it’s a systemic issue that demands policy changes, social support, and a more compassionate approach to treatment.

📚 About Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis
Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis is a clinical psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Drexel University Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan and her predoctoral internship at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Parnarouskis’ research seeks to understand the role of economic marginalization in developing and treating overeating concerns, to inform novel clinical and policy interventions.

📩 Join the Conversation:

• Share your thoughts on social media using #FoodJunkiesPodcast
• please email us: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com

Thank you for listening! If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us spread the message of food addiction recovery.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of Food Junkies, CJ sits down with her friend and colleague, Sharon Gregg, to explore Sharon’s deeply personal story of food addiction and recovery.

From childhood dreams of streets paved with chocolate to decades of yo-yo dieting and the relentless voice of sugar calling her name, Sharon’s story is one many will find achingly familiar. Sharon opens up about her early experiences with dieting, the cultural messages around food and body image she absorbed, and how her battle with sugar addiction intensified during menopause.

Listen as Sharon shares how a life-changing retreat helped her uncover the role of ultra-processed foods in her health struggles—and how understanding the science of addiction gave her the key to breaking free from the sugar cycle.

CJ and Sharon also dive into:

The challenges of overcoming sugar addiction in a world where moderation is idolized.
How menopause became a turning point in Sharon’s search for wellness.
The hidden emotional patterns behind food cravings, stress eating, and weekend “white-knuckling.”
The grief and freedom of letting go of "drug foods" and the unexpected joys of recovery.
Plus, Sharon shares her practical recovery tools—from mindful movement and community support to her love for throwing pots (yes, pottery!).

Whether you’re struggling with food yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation is a candid look at how food addiction impacts the mind, body, and spirit—and how healing is absolutely possible with the right support and self-compassion.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman speaks with Dr. Donald Weaver, a world-renowned expert on Alzheimer’s disease, its causes, and its treatment.

Dr. Weaver, a Canadian neurologist, chemist, and researcher at the University of Toronto, has made significant contributions to our understanding of cognitive diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s. His groundbreaking work suggests that Alzheimer’s is not just an inherited brain disorder but also an autoimmune condition triggered by environmental toxins, including metals, plastics, pesticides, and—most relevant to our discussion—ultra-processed foods.

Join us as we explore the science of Alzheimer’s, the role of diet in brain health, and what we can do to prevent cognitive decline. Dr. Weaver will discuss the inflammatory effects of ultra-processed foods, the role of the immune system in Alzheimer’s, and how diet is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for this devastating disease.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Dr. Weaver’s journey into neurology and Alzheimer’s research, including a personal story that shaped his career.

✔️ Why Alzheimer’s is not just one disease but a collection of related disorders.

✔️ The role of inflammation and the immune system in developing Alzheimer’s.

✔️ How ultra-processed foods contribute to brain inflammation and cognitive decline.

✔️ The similarities between Alzheimer’s and autoimmune diseases.

✔️ Why head trauma, air pollution, and diet are major risk factors.

✔️ How diabetes and obesity increase the likelihood of Alzheimer’s and why some researchers call it “Type 3 Diabetes.”

✔️ The potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic) to reduce Alzheimer’s risk.

✔️ Why it’s never too late to make dietary changes to protect brain health.

✔️ The latest research on potential treatments and vaccines for Alzheimer’s.

Key Quotes:

🧠 “Diet is the most important modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.” – Dr. Donald Weaver

🧠 “Your brain is what makes you—you. Your memories define you. Alzheimer’s is one of the most devastating diseases of the brain.” – Dr. Donald Weaver

🧠 “It’s never too late to protect your brain. Delaying Alzheimer’s by just five years can mean more time with your loved ones.” – Dr. Donald Weaver

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review! Your support helps us bring you more incredible conversations on the science of food addiction and recovery.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.