Food addiction: does it exist or not? Is it helpful or harmful? Does science support it or disprove it? These questions have become so polarizing, especially in the eating disorder and substance abuse communities, where people often take a hard yes or no stance.

In this podcast, we look at it differently.

The fact that there are such strong, diverging opinions on this topic is the best indication that both experiences are real. There are people who are helped by the food addiction model and people who are harmed by it. Otherwise, why would so many be so emotionally invested in defending one position or the other?

In our last episode, we talked about the importance of acknowledging food addiction so that we can hold space for those who experience it. In this episode, we explore the pitfalls of adopting a food addiction framework for people whose loss of control around food is actually rooted in restriction.

Our guest, Libby Supan, shares why she joined and why she left Overeaters Anonymous. She talks about the hope and sense of community she initially found in OA, a space where she could speak openly about her food struggles. And also discusses how the abstinence-based model, which positions certain foods as addictive substances, ultimately perpetuated the food struggles she was trying to recover from.

Libby talks about the shame she felt as an “unsuccessful addict in recovery,” the growing dependence on her sponsor that left her unsure of her own judgment and unable to trust in herself.

Libby is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified intuitive eating counselor. As someone who has personally recovered from a 20-year struggle with an eating disorder, she has a deep understanding of what it's like to live with, and heal from, an unshakeable eating disorder.

Libby runs a therapy and coaching practice, specializing in supporting individuals who are exhausted from obsessing over food and body image. Most of her clients are caught in the binge/restrict cycle and are seeking to break free from it. She is dedicated to guiding as many people as possible toward intuitive eating and a life of true food freedom.

Connect with Libby

Email: libby@libbysupan.com

Website: libbysupan.com (https://libbysupan.com)

Tik Tok: foodfreedomwithlibby (https://www.tiktok.com/@foodfreedoomwithlibby)

IG: foodfreedomwithlibby (https://www.instagram.com/foodfreedomwithlibby)

FB: foodfreedomwithlibby (https://www.facebook.com/FoodFreedomwithLibby)

Binge eating recovery with Elka https://elkacubacub.com/

Does food addiction exist?

This question is the topic of heated debate within the eating disorder recovery community.

We know that binge eating and compulsive overeating can share some characteristics with substance use disorders, such as loss of control, repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit, and continued use despite negative consequences.

However, the question is whether this loss of control around food is the body’s response to food restriction, as is often the case with chronic dieting and binge eating disorder, or the result of disinhibition, similar to patterns seen in substance use disorders.

In this episode, David Wiss explains what ultra-processed food use disorder is, how it differs from deprivation driven binge eating, and why it's important to recognize clients who present with it and feel misunderstood by the eating disorder narrative.

He touches on his own substance abuse history but also emphasizes his value for acting on a sense of purpose and engaging with clients and the larger systems that impact them in a way that extends beyond his own story.

David is a mental health scientist and registered dietitian nutritionist. He has a PhD in public health with a minor in Health Psychology. He founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice based in Los Angeles, CA, that integrates nutritional care into substance use disorder treatment. David also founded the Wise Mind Nutrition mobile app, which bridges the gap between nutrition and mental health. As a clinician and researcher, he has over a decade of experience working one-on-one with patients. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics related to disordered eating and ultra-processed food addiction. David is dedicated to disrupting the status quo and contributing innovative solutions to the mental health crisis.

Nova food classification https://ecuphysicians.ecu.edu/wp-content/pv-uploads/sites/78/2021/07/NOVA-Classification-Reference-Sheet.pdf

Review of the research on ultra processed food addiction https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/12/1955

More on David https://drdavidwiss.com/

Wise Mind Nutrition App https://wisemindnutrition.com/features

Binge eating recovery with Elka https://elkacubacub.com/

In the West, medical treatment tends to be highly specialized. In eating disorder recovery, dietitians are typically responsible for specifying and monitoring clients' food intake. Therapists are responsible for helping clients build coping skills and navigate their internal worlds. Psychiatrists or nurse practitioners are responsible for prescribing psychiatric medication and monitoring medical risk. And so on...

However, human beings are not easily compartmentalized. It is near impossible to change physical health behaviors without navigating a person's emotional reality, and vice versa.

In this episode, Tracy Brown talks about meeting what's in the room with clients as a registered dietitian who is also trained in Internal Family Systems and Somatic Experiencing, both therapy modalities often associated with trauma recovery. Tracy talks about the personal and professional experiences that led her to seek out these trainings, and how she uses them in her practice as a dietitian working with food-related challenges. She also discusses when and how she collaborates with therapists around deeper issues that come up in her sessions.

Tracy is a somatic nutrition therapist, registered and licensed dietitian, and attuned eating coach in private practice. For almost 2 decades, she has provided in-person, phone, and online counseling to individuals seeking support with eating disorders and eating-related challenges. She specializes in working with both adults and children, addressing concerns such as disordered eating, overextension of the body, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, and gut health.

In addition to her clinical work, Tracy regularly teaches intuitive eating workshops and gives talks on disordered eating throughout Florida. She has presented at institutions including the University of Florida and Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Flagler College in St. Augustine, and Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. She also serves as the guest Nutrition Therapist for Feast, an online intuitive eating program, and has been featured on many podcasts discussing topics such as intuitive eating, trauma healing, body image, and recovery.

Her approach is grounded in the belief that healing food and weight concerns is ultimately about choosing to live fully—embracing the richness of being human in the diverse and amazing bodies we inhabit. She encourages clients to feel deeply, live courageously, and commit to the fullest expression of who they are.

To connect with Tracy and her team, visit https://www.tracybrownrd.com/

For binge eating recovery with Elka, visit https://elkacubacub.com/