E27 – Hooked: Food Addiction, Ultra-Processed Diets, and the Brain

In this episode of BrainSTEM, Dr. Hilary Marusak and co-producer Gabby Maramag sit down with clinical psychologist and leading food addiction researcher Dr. Ashley Gearhardt to unpack the science behind ultra-processed foods and their powerful effects on the brain.

Food is central to our lives — it fuels us, connects us to culture, and brings people together. But in today’s environment, we are surrounded by ultra-processed foods that are engineered to be hyper-palatable, inexpensive, and convenient. This shift has raised urgent questions: Can certain foods be addictive? And what does that mean for our brains, our health, and our children?

Dr. Gearhardt explains what “food addiction” really means — and how it differs from simply enjoying food. We explore the brain’s reward systems, why foods like chips, soda, and fast food can feel so hard to stop eating, and how modern food environments may be reshaping eating behavior at a population level.

Together, we discuss obesity, diabetes, binge eating, mental health, food marketing, and food justice — and why children and adolescents may be especially vulnerable. Dr. Gearhardt also shares insights from her clinical work and policy efforts, including testimony before Congress, outlining what meaningful change could look like.

As ultra-processed diets dominate grocery stores and school cafeterias, this episode offers a science-based perspective on how our food environment influences behavior — and what we can do about it.

🔗 Topics Covered

• What “food addiction” really means
• How ultra-processed foods affect the brain
• Dopamine, reward, and cravings
• Why some foods feel harder to stop eating
• Children and adolescent vulnerability
• The obesity epidemic and the modern food environment
• Food marketing and industry influence
• Food justice and access
• Clinical overlap with eating disorders
• Treatment approaches and emerging research
• Policy solutions and public health strategies
• Research gaps and future directions

🌿 Tune in for a thoughtful and evidence-based conversation that bridges neuroscience, psychology, and public health — and challenges how we think about food in modern society.

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🎧 Available now on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts!

❤️‍🩹 Help is available 24 hours/day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.

🧠 BrainSTEM is hosted by neuroscientist Dr. Hilary Marusak. Production and social media by Amanpreet Bhogal, Manmeet Bhogal, and Gabby Maramag. This interview was conducted by Gabby Maramag together with Dr. Hilary Marusak. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Society for Neuroscience and the Michigan Society for Neuroscience.

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