About 10 percent of those who take Wegovy, Zepbound, etc. do not experience the results they seek, according to a New York Times article. “Over 15 months on Zepbound, Ms. Layeux lost only a pound or two. ‘“’No matter what I do, these “miracle drugs”’” don’t work,’ she said. “GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound have helped millions of people shed significant weight. But then there are the often-overlooked outliers: In clinical trials, about one in 10 people on the drugs were “non-responders,” losing less than 5 percent of their body weight, compared with the average of 15 to 21 percent. With so much attention on the benefits of these drugs, the experiences of non-responders are often overlooked. “For these patients, it can be maddening to see no weight loss after months of treatment and thousands of dollars spent.”
Be the reason someone heals
By Mona ObaidVice chairwoman It can be easily said that tens of millions of people experience Food Addiction without even knowing it, and therefore don’t know how to overcome it. They — and those already seeking recovery — need our help. They need your help. The Food Addiction Institute is the world’s foremost authority on the condition, providing comfort, support, information, and guidance not only to sufferers but to health professionals, policy makers, and loved ones. This work can thrive only if you offer your support as well. From noon to noon, April 15-16, donors of up to $100 each will have their donations to the institute fully matched by the Giving Challenge, conducted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Fla., where the institute has its roots. Food Addiction is often a silent struggle. Many people feel shame, confusion, and loneliness as they try again and again to control their eating. But Food Addiction is not a failure of willpower. It is a real and complex condition involving brain chemistry. Visitors to the institute’s website and recipients of its newsletter learn how to think about and recover from the disease, and how to help others understand it. The institute shares the latest research, filters news through the prism of Food Addiction, and does much more. And it needs your help to do it. Be part of this movement. Please visit the Giving Challenge website between noon and noon, April 15-16, to make your donation. In the meantime, please share this limited opportunity with friends, family, and your community. Every donation, no matter the size, brings hope, understanding, and recovery to someone who needs it. Together, we can break the silence around Food Addiction and remind people that recovery is possible.
Kristina Dobyns
Edit Template Email Website Dr. Kristina Dobyns brings both professional expertise and lived recovery experience to her work in Food Addiction and binge eating recovery. In long-term recovery herself, she understands firsthand the complexity of cravings, relapse patterns, and the deep desire for true freedom. Her approach is abstinence-based, body-based, and metabolically informed. Integrating nutritional support, somatic psychology, nervous system regulation, and mindfulness practices, she addresses the deeper drivers of compulsive eating to support sustainable, whole-person change. For information about coaching, courses, or workshops, please contact Dr. Kristina via email.
Eva Flech
Edit Template Email Website Mi enfoque, basado en la dieta keto/low carb, sana las disfunciones bioquímicas, neurológicas y endocrinas que subyacen a la adicción. Recibo en Alicante, España.
Dustin Silas Brown
Edit Template Lose2Gain Health Southern Illinois, US Email Website I’m a transformation coach who helps people break ultra-processed food addiction and rebuild their health one baby step at a time. I use the same holistic approach I created for myself after losing and regaining 250 pounds and battling an ultra-processed food addiction I did not fully understand, and one society often does not accept. Through that process, I lost 300 pounds, maintained it for over five years, and, most importantly, achieved food tranquility by staying abstinent from my trigger foods. My insight comes from 25 years of obsessive research, both academically and the lived realities of myself and others. Regardless of where you are starting, I can guide you down a path towards physical health, mental peace, mobility, and longevity by addressing root causes and building a solid and sustainable foundation that can withstand real life challenges.
Self love lasts a lifetime
By Alicia Batucan As the month ends, the commitment to yourself does not. February may be the shortest month, but the self-love we’ve practiced is designed to last a lifetime. Choosing abstinence isn’t a 28-day challenge; it’s a daily decision to honor your body and your brain. We are carrying this clarity into March and beyond. At the Food Addiction Institute, we believe that “loving thyself” is a revolutionary act in a world that profits from our addiction. As the calendar turns, remember: The seasons change, but our mission remains steadfast: to advocate, to educate, and to walk alongside you. Thank you for making February a month of love and healing. Let’s take this momentum and turn it into a lifetime of freedom.
The lasting effect of lowering blood sugar
The lasting power of lowering blood sugar This post is adapted from an AARP Magazine story. By Cynthia Myers-MorrisonBoard Secretary Imagine giving yourself a gift that keeps on giving for decades — one that touches every corner of your life, from your heart health to your relationships. That gift is lowering your blood sugar, especially if you’re living with prediabetes. The choice to act now, before diabetes develops, isn’t just a short-term fix. It’s a decision that creates ripples of positive change throughout your lifetime — a true legacy effect. About 537 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes, and an additional 541 million people have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Moving your blood sugar score from prediabetes into the normal range can change your life’s trajectory. The benefits will continue to protect you over time. Research shows that reducing blood sugar early can significantly limit cardiovascular risks for the rest of your life. The myth of ‘wait and see’ There’s a dangerous misconception that prediabetes is something you should just watch and wait. Studies prove that waiting only increases your risk of developing diabetes and all the consequences that come with it. The real opportunity is in taking immediate action — changing those numbers now, which opens new possibilities for your health, lifestyle, and even your relationships. (Reviewing the New Food Guidelines and the FAI Starter booklet are two good places to start.) Prediabetes is “linked to heart attacks, heart disease, and a higher risk of death.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 115.2 million American adults, over 1 in 3, are prediabetic. Unless you use a continuous glucose monitor, you may be prediabetic without knowing it. Nearly a third of young Americans have prediabetes. More than half of Americans 65 and older have it. People with Food Addiction are 6–7 times more likely to have Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) than non-Food Addicts, even after adjusting for BMI.2 About 30 percent of all individuals with T2DM meet criteria for FA, based on a 2025 meta-analysis of 12 studies.3 These findings suggest that addictive eating behaviors, independent of obesity, can significantly contribute to impaired glucose control. This distinction matters because standard weight-focused methods may not fully address the underlying neurological drivers. Clinicians use two tests to assess blood glucose. One is the fasting plasma glucose test, which measures levels at the moment of testing. The other, the HbA1c, measures the 60- to 90-day average how much glucose has attached to hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. How diabetes is measured Test name What it measures Normal range Prediabetes Diabetes Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) Blood sugar level at instant of test 70-99 mg/dL* 100-125 mg/dL Above 126 mg/dL Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (US) Average glucose level of the past 60-90 days Under 5.7 percent 5.7-6.4 percent Above 6.5 percent Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (metric) Average glucose level of the past 60-90 days Under 42 mmol/mol+ 42–47 mmol/mol 48 mmol/mol *Milligrams per deciliter | + millimoles per liter The legacy effect Twenty to thirty years after intervention programs in the U.S. and China, researchers found that people who brought their glucose back to normal had about a “50 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or being hospitalized for heart failure” — regardless of your age, weight, or ethnicity. The path to better health is within reach. You can track blood sugar with a continuous glucose monitor or simple finger pricks after meals. Not only can you transform your health, but you may also inspire and safeguard the well-being of those you love. Lowering your blood sugar now is more important than just numbers on a chart. It can create a healthier, happier future for yourself and your family. Don’t wait — embrace this positive change and become the catalyst for lifelong vitality and a model for your family members, friends, and colleagues. Notes 1. Global data based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 10th edition estimates.2. Horsager et al., Clinical Nutrition (2023)3. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, British Journal of Nutrition (2025)
Fasting Ramadan and Food Addiction
Fasting Ramadan and Food Addiction An Institute board member’s exhortation to his community during Islam’s holy month By Sachir AjlouniBoard member For those who may not be familiar, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast every day from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib). This means completely abstaining from food, drink, and other physical comforts during daylight hours (8 to 12 hours) as an act of worship, self-discipline, gratitude, and empathy for those who have less. The fast is meant to quiet the body so the soul can be heard more clearly. However, because no food or drink is consumed all day, many people naturally focus a great deal of attention on the evening meal (iftar). In most cases, that anticipation turns into overeating or even continuous nightly binging till dawn, shifting the focus away from the spiritual purpose of the month. Understanding this helps. Indulgence It is regrettable that this month has become focused on the culinary delights of Ramadan, with its array of sugary, highly processed foods such as sweets, juices, breads, and much more. For many, this month becomes a constant cycle of overindul-gence as individuals showcase their culinary skills and hospitality. Ramadan is a time of social gatherings, where people are encouraged to visit relatives and participate in communal meals. Some may eat at home only once or twice in the span of thirty days. The month becomes, for many, non-productive and non-healthy and loses its original purpose. Ramadan is the month of goodness and blessings, the month in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed, the month of mercy, forgiveness, and liberation. It is an opportunity to draw closer to God, seek forgiveness, and embark on a renewed life filled with humility and faith. Food is not the most important thing in this holy month. Ask yourself, my friend: Will you find the same passion and urgency when you rush to buy sweets, hummus, falafel, fresh bread, and juice 15 minutes before breaking your fast as you do when you wake for Fajr prayer? Or as you embark on any activity that brings you closer to God, do you procrastinate all day and spend most of the day sleeping with no energy whatsoever? Let go of the obsession with food, dear brothers and sisters. Turn to God with sincerity. Feel the spirituality of this holy month. Lose your mental obsession with food. Fasting facts, tips Knowledge is power. When you refrain from eating and drinking for many hours, your body enters a fasting state (starvation mode). This can bring: Strong desire to eat (cravings) Intense hunger Slower metabolism as the body conserves energy Increased stress Elevated cortisol levels No wonder we feel irritable. No wonder we feel tired. No wonder we struggle to focus. No wonder food is constantly on our minds. And if you are a smoker, the challenge doubles. One important point: When the body feels deprived (starvation mode) and then receives excessive food suddenly, it tends to store energy more efficiently. Your body Fasting facts, tips If you are working on recovery from food addiction or trying to maintain balance: Follow your food plan guidelines, weigh your food, and plan your meals. If it is not possible to weigh, then eyeball your plate mindfully: 1/4 protein, 1/4 starch, 1/2 vegetables. Avoid excessive fat as much as you can; do not have seconds. Start with water. Drink one full glass (or two if needed). Begin with vegetable soup. If you feel satisfied, pause. Take a break to pray. Return and continue mindfully. Eat consciously. If you feel full, stop. Avoid rushing; force yourself to finish your food. This will assure your body and brain that you are physically full and whatever craving you’re getting is false hunger, not physical hunger. Give yourself 60-90 minutes before eating your fruit. Stay active — don’t make the evening only about watching television and indulging in sweets, nuts, and food. Personally, I stay active in Ramadan. I swim in the morning, spin before iftar, and go for a walk at night. Movement helps balance both body and mind. Drink enough water throughout the night. Be mindful with caffeine — enough to function, not so much that it disrupts your rest. If you smoke, try to reduce it. Excess smoking increases fatigue and tension. Communicate. Don’t isolate yourself. Attend meetings. Connect with your group. Check in as much as you need to. Do recovery work. Read, write, reflect. Ask for help and support. Share all thoughts and feelings regarding food. Strengthen your religious routine and reconnect with God. Remember: everyone is different, Listen to your body. will work hard to preserve every bit of energy it can, and for most of us, we have an abundance of fat cells eager to get full. This is why fasting and eating the wrong food can make weight management even harder during Ramadan. With this in mind, let’s make our bodies work with us, not against us. Our goal is to release our mental obsession with food and weight — and restore balance. Remember: everyone is different, Listen to your body. The Holy Qur’an says: “Eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters.” Ramadan is a month of reflection, tolerance, restraint, and spiritual healing. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have their previous sins forgiven. So fast with faith. Be humble. Seek reward. Focus on worship. Focus on growth. Focus on drawing closer to God — not closer to food. Lose your mental obsession with food. Gain peace. Gain serenity. Gain spiritual strength. Have a Ramadan like no other. Ramadan Kareem. Sachir Ajlouni is the cofounder of Aglon Recovery in Amman, Jordan. He has been working with Food Addicts and others for more than 10 years.
Abstinence Is a State of Mind — Not a Diet
By Susan BranscomeBoard member, recovered Food Addict Abstinence, in the context of Food Addiction, means choosing not to consume foods that trigger compulsive eating, cravings, and loss of control. For those struggling with addictive eating behaviors, abstinence is not about counting calories or following a diet plan; it is a commitment to remove substances that hijack the brain’s reward system. This approach creates the psychological and physiological space needed to heal, think clearly, and build sustainable and healthy patterns. To abstain from foods that trigger addictive physical responses or behaviors can free those who struggle with Food Addiction. What Is Addiction and Ultra-Processed Food? Addiction is a chronic brain disorder characterized by intense cravings, loss of control, and continued use despite negative consequences. Traditionally applied to substances such as alcohol or drugs, growing evidence suggests certain foods — especially ultra-processed foods (UPFs) — produce similar effects in some individuals. UPFs are industrially manufactured products high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, fat, and additives, engineered to be highly palatable and immediately rewarding to the brain. They may stimulate the same neural reward pathways implicated in substance use disorders, leading to compulsive eating, cravings, and physiological dependence. Neurobiological research shows that UPFs can trigger dopamine responses in reward centers of the brain, similar to addictive drugs. While the scientific community continues to debate how to classify this condition formally, many clinicians and researchers acknowledge that ultra-processed foods can cause addictive-like responses in a portion of the population. What Is Misunderstood About This Addiction and Using Abstinence? A major misunderstanding is equating recovery from addictive eating with dieting. Diets typically focus on restriction, weight control, and food rules — but they do not address the neurological and psychological grip that UPFs can exert. Recovery from Food Addiction is not about moderation or balanced eating alone; it’s about removing the trigger substances from an eating plan so that the brain can recalibrate. For an addict, even one bite of a trigger food can reignite intense cravings and loss of control, just as alcohol is unsafe for someone in recovery from alcoholism. Another misconception is that Food Addiction is purely a behavioral issue or a lack of willpower. In reality, addictive eating involves complex interactions among neurobiology, environment, stress, emotion, and habit. Abstinence is not punishment; it’s a protective practice that allows the nervous system to settle and the person to regain management and experience freedom from eating behaviors. Why It’s Not a Diet Food Addiction recovery differs from diets in fundamental ways: Ways to Recover Recovery from Food Addiction is most successful when abstinence is paired with supportive, evidence-based strategies that address behavior, cognition, and environment: 1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)CBT helps individuals identify the thoughts and patterns that lead to compulsive eating, and replace them with healthier coping skills. This is particularly valuable once trigger foods are removed, allowing greater clarity and self-regulation. 2. Peer Support & 12-Step ProgramsAbstinence-based groups such as 12-step fellowships provide community, accountability, and a structured path for ongoing recovery. 3. SMART RecoveryA secular, science-based alternative that uses tools from CBT and motivational psychology to manage urges, improve emotional regulation, and build self-empowerment. 4. Professional CounselingTherapists trained in addiction, trauma, and/or eating behaviors can help address underlying emotional drivers of Food Addiction. 5. Nutritional GuidanceWorking with nutritionists who understand addictive eating can help individuals identify trigger foods, stabilize blood sugar, and create personalized, sustainable eating patterns to reach a healthy body weight. 6. Lifestyle SupportsMindfulness, stress management, physical activity, and supportive relationships all reinforce the internal changes needed for long-term recovery. In Food Addiction recovery, abstinence is a state of mind and a way of living that frees a person from the chemical and psychological grip of addictive foods — not a transient diet trend. It represents a conscious commitment to protect brain health, emotional stability, and long-term well-being by removing substances that repeatedly cause harm. Rather than narrowing life, abstinence expands it — quieting obsessive food thoughts, restoring clarity, and allowing individuals to engage more fully with their relationships, work, and purpose. When the addictive stimulus is removed, the brain and body are given the opportunity to heal. Cravings lessen, mood stabilizes, and the constant internal negotiation around food begins to fade. From this foundation of stability, real recovery becomes possible — not just improved eating behaviors, but deeper emotional growth, improved physical health, and sustained freedom from relapse cycles. This path is grounded in science and strengthened by connection. Recovery thrives when abstinence is supported by evidence-based tools, compassionate professionals, and communities of people who understand the lived experience of Food Addiction. Together, these supports transform abstinence from an act of restriction into a pathway of empowerment, healing, and lasting change.
Can GLP-1s “fix” Food Addiction?
By Michael PragerChairman There are the causes of disordered eating. And there are the popular remedies for it. GLP-1s are the unprecedented, overwhelming favorites right now, hailed as life-changing by users who report significantly lower “food noise,” easier appetite control, and other benefits. But before them there was bariatric surgery, and before that a legion of diets, fad and otherwise. All these techniques have helped some people reduce their body weight, with varying levels of side effects and long-term success. But a question rarely asked is, how did these patients reach the metrics that qualified them for Ozempic (and the like), or for the various bariatric techniques? GLP-1s mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone to slow gastric emptying, increase satiety, reduce appetite in the brain, and stimulate insulin release. Bariatric procedures reduce stomach size while affecting gut-brain signaling in ways that promote earlier satiety, lower appetite, etc. But did patients lack natural GLP-1, or did bariatric patients have stomachs that were too big? Or do the techniques address unwanted outcomes of different origins? GLP-1 medication, bariatric surgery, and OG diets have helped people to lose weight — and sure, that’s why people have turned to them. But none of them get at the “why,” as in, “what factors led to my needing drugs, surgery, and/or diets?” We’re not talking about fault. Addiction is a brain disease that causes some people, based on their physiology, to react differently to substances and/or behaviors than other people do. People with or without this physiology can be driven to overeat by unresolved trauma and many other causes. Our experience with Food Addiction tells us that these factors are very often more important to address than how or how much one eats. That’s why Food Addiction is not defined only, or even chiefly, as a weight issue. And that’s why techniques to lose weight can improve one’s health prospects. But without facing the fullness of one’s situation, even the best weight-loss solutions are unable to bring the serenity that results from identifying and working to ease what underlies one’s behaviors.