David Kessler, Author of the End of Overeating,- is here to talk to us about his new book: Diet Drugs and Dopamine.
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman, and I am your cohost today, along with Clarissa Kennedy. Today we speak with the noted author, Dr. David Kessler.
Dr David. A. Kessler is a pediatrician and has been the dean of the medical schools at Yale and the University of California. He is a graduate of Amherst College, the University of Chicago Law School, and Harvard Medical School. Most recently he served as chief science officer of the White House COVID-19 Response Team and previously served as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller The End of Overeating and as well as other books: Fast Carbs, Slow Carbs and Food or Fiction.
Of particular interest to us at Food Junkies Podcast is his most recent book: Diet, Drugs and Dopamine : the New Science on Achieving a Healthy Weight
🗝️ Key Takeaways
🔥 Addiction, Not Just Overeating
In The End of Overeating (2009), Kessler avoided the term "addiction." Now, in Diet, Drugs & Dopamine, he boldly names it. Cue-induced wanting, craving, and relapse are the neurobiological hallmarks of addiction—and they're present in our relationships with ultra-processed food.
⚖️ GLP-1 Medications: One Tool, Not a Cure
GLP-1s (like Ozempic, Wegovy) tamp down cravings by delaying gastric emptying and triggering aversive circuits (feelings of fullness, even nausea).
They work only while you’re on them—and can change your relationship with food—but they are not a magic bullet. The real value? These drugs prove this is biology, not a moral failing or lack of willpower.
💥 Addiction Is in the Brain—And It’s Working Too Well
Food addiction isn't a sign of dysfunction—it’s our reward circuits doing exactly what they were designed to do in a world of hyper-palatable foods.
The issue lies in environmental mismatch—evolution designed us for scarcity, but we now live in abundance.
🧬 It’s Not About Weight—It’s About Health
Kessler emphasizes toxic visceral fat as the real danger, not body size.
This fat is metabolically active and causal in diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions.
🔄 Weight Regain = Relapse
Most people regain lost weight not because of laziness, but due to metabolic adaptations and craving relapse. Recovery must focus on sustainable behavior change and addressing addictive circuits.
🤝 Bridging the Gap Between Food Addiction & Eating Disorder Communities
Kessler supports the inclusion of Ultra-Processed Food Use Disorder in the DSM and ICD.
Compassion and shared understanding are key to breaking down stigma and offering effective, united treatment approaches.
🧰 Lifestyle Management & Long-Term Tools
GLP-1s may be a biological bridge, but long-term success requires:
Nutrition education
Emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Culinary skills and food sovereignty
Community, support, and behavior change strategies
💡 Final Wisdom from Dr. Kessler
“Once you lose the weight, that’s when the real work begins.”
“There’s no shame in using the tools that work. But we need to use them wisely, and not in isolation.”
Follow Dr. Kessler: Twitter @DavidAKesslerMD
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.
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