Food Junkies Podcast Ep. 233: Dr. David Kessler – Diet, Drugs and Dopamine

In this compelling episode, Dr. David Kessler—former FDA Commissioner, public health leader, and author of The End of Overeating and Diet, Drugs & Dopamine—joins us to discuss the biology of food addiction, his personal journey with weight regain, and the urgent need to move beyond willpower-based narratives. He breaks down the neuroscience of cue-induced craving, the promise and limitations of GLP-1 medications, and why weight regain should be seen as relapse, not failure. Dr. Kessler also explores the dangers of toxic visceral fat, the mismatch between our evolutionary wiring and modern food environments, and how long-term recovery requires emotional regulation, community support, and food sovereignty. With compassion and clarity, he calls for bridging the divide between the food addiction and eating disorder communities, championing science-based tools and shared understanding as the path forward.