In this video, we explore a revolutionary shift in how we understand and treat eating disorders—through the lens of metabolic psychiatry.

What if binge eating, food addiction, or even anorexia aren’t just psychological issues... but rooted in blood sugar instability, neuroinflammation, and metabolic dysfunction?

This isn’t theory—it’s emerging science that’s already transforming lives.

What You’ll Learn in this video:

• Metabolic Psychiatry 101 – Why conditions like binge eating disorder and anorexia may stem from disrupted insulin, glucose, and neurochemistry—not just trauma or emotion.

• The Ultra-Processed Food Trap – How modern foods activate the same reward pathways as addictive drugs—and how that rewires hunger, mood, and behavior.

• An Impressive Ketogenic Case Study – Why a 2023 study found long-term remission in severe anorexia using a high-fat, low-carb animal-based diet—and what that could mean for future treatment.

• Biochemical Repair or Willpower – Why recovery might depend less on psychology and more on nourishing the brain with the right fuel.

If “all foods fit” left you stuck or made things worse, this video offers a bold, science-backed alternative. This is not about restriction—it’s about restoring balance from the inside out.

Please like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone who might benefit from it. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more insights and support on your recovery journey!

Follow Beyond Binge Eating

Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/#

Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.com

Newsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/

Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/

00:00 – Intro

00:36 – The problem with traditional binge eating recovery methods

01:05 – What is Metabolic Psychiatry?

01:55 – Ultra-Processed Food as an Addictive Substance

02:15 – Eating Disorders through the metabolic lens

02:48 – Game-Changing Study: The Norwitz et al ketogenic anorexia case series

04:05 – Testimonial #1: How carnivore reduced anxiety and improved weight gain

04:18 – Testimonial #2: A 30-year battle with anorexia ended with keto

05:00 – Could addiction be the real underlying issue?

05:13 – How ketosis might support mental health

05:45 – Biochemical Repair vs. Restriction: Fueling the brain for real recovery

05:55 – The full toolkit for biochemical healing (sleep, light, electrolytes...)

06:28 – The Future of Treatment

07:25 – Your Thoughts? Please like and subscribe

#FoodAddictionRecovery #FoodAddiction #BingeEatingRecovery #Sugaraddiction #metabolichealth #metabolicpsychiatry

In this episode, I am joined with my guest co-host Vanessa Kredler. We sit down with Dr. Owen Flanagan—renowned philosopher at Duke University and author of What Is It Like to Be an Addict—to explore the complex, lived experience of addiction and why the description of addiction as just a brain disease can fall short.

Here’s what we cover in the episode:

• Why addiction is more than just a brain disease—and how neuroscience can oversimplify a deeply human struggle

• What craving actually feels like from the inside—and why it’s not just about “willpower”

• How lifestyle, trauma, and culture shape addiction in ways medication alone can’t touch

• The parallels between substance addiction and food addiction—especially around compulsions and loss of control

• Why different people respond differently to the same substance—and what that means for treatment

• What philosophy can teach us about shame, identity, and the desire to live well

Owen’s perspective blends science, story, and philosophy into a compassionate, thought-provoking conversation. Whether you’ve experienced addiction firsthand, work with people in recovery, or are simply trying to understand it better—this episode will leave you with insights you won’t forget.

00:00 – Intro

02:36 – How Do You Understand Craving as a Felt Experience?

03:05 – Owen’s Personal Experience With Addiction

06:01 – Where Craving Happens: Before, During, and After Use

08:08 – Craving vs Compulsion

09:10 – Conscious and Unconscious Desires

10:41 – The Complexity of Food Addiction vs Substance Addiction

13:22 – Binge Drinking and the DSM: What's Missing?

14:41 – Why One-Size-Fits-All Addiction Treatment Doesn’t Work

16:45 – Critique of “Addiction is a Brain Disease” Model

21:03 – How Brain Science Can Help—or Limit—Understanding

24:43 – Co-morbidity in Addiction (Schizophrenia, Bipolar, ADHD)

27:56 – Medications and Craving Reduction

30:02 – Behavioral Addictions

34:19 – Why Some People Get Addicted and Others Don’t

36:41 – Can You Be Born With Addiction?

42:14 – Closing Thoughts

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🗣️Follow and connect with Owen Flanagan:

https://x.com/owenflanagan

Get his new book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/dmKoy9d

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Follow Beyond Binge Eating

Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/

Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.com

Newsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/

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Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/

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Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.

In this video, we challenge a core principle of traditional binge eating recovery—the idea that all foods fit with moderation.

For many, this approach backfires, leaving them trapped in cycles of cravings, blood sugar swings, and loss of control.

What You’ll Learn:

The Science of Reward Dysregulation: How sugar, refined flour, and even "healthy" sweeteners (like stevia or monk fruit) hijack brain chemistry, mimicking addiction pathways.

Metabolic Psychiatry’s Perspective: The role of insulin resistance, dopamine spikes, and neuroinflammation in binge urges—why the drive to overeat isn’t just emotional, but biochemical.

Strategic Abstinence vs. Restriction: The critical difference between depriving yourself and removing triggers to restore metabolic and neurological balance.

Real-World Results: How eliminating hyper-palatable foods can stabilize energy, reduce cravings, and create a foundation for true healing—both physically and psychologically.

If you’ve tried "intuitive eating" or moderation but still feel powerless around certain foods, this evidence-based approach could be your missing link. Spoiler: It’s not about willpower or weight loss—it’s about rewiring your biology.

Please like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone who might benefit from it. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more insights and support on your recovery journey!

Follow Beyond Binge Eating

Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/#

Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.com

Newsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/

Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/

0:00 - Introduction

0:33 - Why “All Foods Fit” Doesn’t Fit Everyone

1:07 - Reward Dysfunction and Hyperpalatable Foods

1:30 - Why We Don’t Do “Keto Treats” or Almond Flour Substitutes

1:51 - Metabolic Psychiatry Perspective

2:31 - But Isn’t This Just Another Diet?

3:07 - An Invitation to Explore

3:44 - Share your experience in the comments!

#FoodAddictionRecovery #FoodAddiction #BingeEatingRecovery #Sugaraddiction