Why We Can’t Stop: The Truth About Ultra-Processed Food Addiction

Dr. Jen Unwin is a pioneering voice in the field of food addiction, bringing more than three decades of clinical experience from the UK’s National Health Service and a lifelong focus on one powerful idea: hope. A Fellow of the British Psychological Society and recipient of the Karen Ehlert Lifetime Achievement Award, she has dedicated her career to helping people move beyond shame and self-blame toward lasting health change. What makes her work especially compelling is that it is not only professional but personal—Dr. Unwin has openly shared her own struggles with food addiction, giving her a rare depth of empathy and insight into the realities of recovery. Working alongside her husband, Dr. David Unwin, she has helped pioneer drug-free remission of type 2 diabetes through sustainable dietary change, supporting hundreds of patients and influencing many more worldwide. Together, they demonstrate that when biology, psychology, and behavior are addressed as one, transformation is not only possible—it is repeatable. Her work bridges science and lived experience, combining clinical rigor with a deep understanding of the emotional and psychological drivers of addictive eating. In this conversation, we explore the science of food addiction—how ultra-processed foods can hijack the brain, why traditional approaches to control food intake so often fall short, and what it truly takes to move from dieting to recovery. Dr. Unwin shares powerful insights on shame, trauma, withdrawal, and the moment of clarity many experience in early recovery. She is also part of a growing international movement—alongside leaders such as Heidi Giaever and other global experts—working to advance recognition of ultra-processed food addiction as a substance use disorder within the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This work represents a critical step toward transforming treatment, research, and public policy worldwide. This is a deeply human and hopeful discussion with a clinician who is helping redefine what recovery can look like—and why meaningful change in how we understand and treat food addiction may be closer than ever. Food Addiction Solutions (https://www.the-chc.org/fas/team) Write to the WHO about food addiction (https://foodaddictioninstitute.org/who-comment-instructions/) The INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/)