Rewire Your Food-Addicted Brain - by Claire Wilcox (Paperback)

About the Book

The food industry engineers food products with the purpose of addicting consumers. As a result, millions of people are now hooked on sugary, ultra-processed foods that can lead to obesity, loss of vitality, and diabetes. Written by a psychiatrist and food addiction expert, this crucial and essential guide offers a combination of eating disorder and addiction treatment methods to help readers move past addictive behaviors--so they can enjoy a healthy and genuinely rewarding relationship with food.

Book Synopsis

"Our 'druggified' food supply makes us all vulnerable to the problem of compulsive overconsumption. This practical guide, informed by the latest science and decades of clinical experience, is a tutorial in self-compassion as much as a science-help approach to overeating."
--Anna Lembke, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation

A game-changing approach to overcome food addiction and radically improve your health.

Have you ever wondered why you're addicted to certain foods? Would it shock you to learn that the food industry engineers food products with the express purpose of getting you hooked? With millions wrestling with food addiction, is it any surprise that much of what is meant to sustain us is in fact making us sick? The increasing dependence on unhealthy, ultra-processed foods invites a host of health problems--from obesity and heart disease to diabetes. So, how can you break free from this destructive cycle?

Written by an addiction psychiatrist with decades of experience, this powerful guide combines proven-effective techniques based in addiction and eating disorder treatments to help you overcome the unhealthy food habit, once and for all. In addition to real-world stories from others who have battled food addiction, you'll learn how certain foods can actually alter your neurochemistry--lighting up reward centers in your brain just like nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs. Most importantly, you'll discover how to move beyond the self-blame, shame, and internalized stigma that is associated with food addiction, so you can start taking steps toward lasting recovery.

If you're trapped in a never-ending cycle of yo-yo dieting, crazy cravings, and binging (with or without purging), this evidence-based guide can help you get back on track. It's time to say goodbye to "big food," and the packaged products that keep you from nourishing and enriching both your body and mind. This powerful book can help you get started today.

Review Quotes

"A very important, scientifically based contribution to understanding and treating food addiction which does an exemplary job at bridging the gap between theory and practice. This is as much a groundbreaking self-help book as it is an essential guide for medical practitioners and mental health providers treating obesity and eating disorders."
--David Aaron Kessler, MD, pediatrician, attorney, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and New York Times bestselling author of The End of Overeating--David Aaron Kessler, MD

"An insightful and empowering guide to breaking free from food addiction, this book combines cutting-edge neuroscience with practical strategies to help rewire your brain and reclaim control over your eating habits. A must-read for anyone seeking lasting change."
--Nicole Avena, PhD, author of Sugarless--Nicole Avena, PhD

"Claire Wilcox has expertly woven together the wisdom of academics and clinicians in the field with her own knowledge to produce an essential guide to the topic of addiction to UPFs. The book is a concise distillation of the current research and treatment options for understanding this complex condition. I will definitely be recommending this book to colleagues and professionals alike."
--Jen Unwin, PsyD, clinical health psychologist, and author of Fork in the Road--Jen Unwin, PsyD

"If you, your loved ones, or your clients struggle with addictive eating, this book is a must-read. Grounded in science and research, Claire Wilcox synthesizes and summarizes a massive amount of information into a clear, personal, and engaging guide that will show you how to move forward. Addressing the neuroscience, nutrition, and complexities when there are eating disorders present, she leaves no stone unturned."
--Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD, professor of brain and cognitive sciences, and New York Times bestselling author of Bright Line Eating--Susan Peirce Thompson, PhD

"Pretty much every bad thing you've heard about what ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can do to you is true. How to defend yourself? That answer--in expert, actionable detail--is found in this book."
--David L. Katz, MD, MPH, past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and founder of True Health Initiative--David L. Katz, MD, MPH

"This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a healthier relationship with food. Our 'druggified' food supply makes us all vulnerable to the problem of compulsive overconsumption. This practical guide, informed by the latest science and decades of clinical experience, is a tutorial in self-compassion as much as a science-help approach to overeating. I highly recommend."
--Anna Lembke, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation--Anna Lembke, MD

"What a compassionate, scholarly, and immensely readable book. It beautifully bridges the gap between the complex worlds of neuroscience, clinical medicine, and lived experience. Essential reading for anyone who feels like they have an addicted relationship with food."
--Chris van Tulleken, PhD, MD, associate professor at University College London, author of Ultra-Processed People, and radio and television broadcaster and documentarian--Chris van Tulleken, PhD, MD

"Wilcox truly understands the nuance of addiction-like eating and the range of treatment approaches available. She wrote this masterpiece to help you discover what recovery and freedom can be."
--David Wiss, PhD, mental health nutritionist, founder of Nutrition in Recovery, and creator of the Wise Mind Nutrition app--David Wiss, PhD

About the Author

Claire Wilcox, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and addiction psychiatrist, associate professor of translational neuroscience at the Mind Research Network, frequent guest on the Food Junkies podcast, and adjunct faculty at the University of New Mexico. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including a medical weight loss clinic and an eating disorder treatment facility, and she completed an internal medicine residency before her psychiatry residency. She has been awarded National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants for her research in addiction neuroscience, and has published numerous academic works, including a textbook on food addiction titled Food Addiction, Obesity, andDisorders of Overeating. She was associate editor of the New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch from 2017-2020, blogs regularly on Psychology Today, and has written for Santa Fe Reporter and Science in the News, among others.

Foreword writer Clarissa Kennedy, RSW, is a clinical social worker and addiction recovery specialist with more than fifteen years of experience helping individuals and families navigate food addiction and eating disorders. Her personal recovery journey informs her compassionate approach, fostering trust and understanding with clients.

Foreword writer Molly Painschab, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, and expert in addiction recovery with a special focus on food addiction and its intersection with trauma and mental health. Painschab is cofounder of Sweet Sobriety, where she empowers individuals to overcome challenges associated with ultra-processed food addiction and cultivate healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Foreword writer Vera Tarman is author of Food Junkies, and medical director of Renascent. She is also cohost of the successful Food Junkies podcast, along with Molly Painschab and Clarissa Kennedy. You can also find her on her free Facebook group, "I'm Sweet Enough: Sugar-Free for Life," and her YouTube channel: Veratarmanmd.