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Overeating, binge eating, obesity, anorexia, and bulimia — Food Junkies tackles the complex, poorly understood issue of food addiction from the perspective of a medical clinician and dozens of survivors. What exactly is food addiction? Is it possible to draw a hard line between indulging cravings for “comfort food” and engaging in substance abuse? For people struggling with food addictions, recognizing their condition remains a frustrating battle.
The third edition of the bestselling book includes the latest research on all aspects of food addiction and an expanded section on practical strategies for breaking free from it, offering supportive and manageable steps toward healthy, lasting habits.
A must-read for anyone who has an addictive relationship with food and healthcare providers who treat eating disorders and obesity, this new edition of Food Junkies by Dr. Tarman delivers, as before, scientifically grounded and informative content in an engaging and accessible voice. The rich and compassion-generating case histories, the deep dives into the ways that hormone shifts from a lifetime of overeating cause cravings and problematic eating behavior, and the spectacular sections on food addiction history and volume addiction are just a few examples of things that make this book outshine others in the field. Dr. Tarman is expertly positioned like no one else to write this preeminent book on food addiction: she has a personal history of addiction and recovery, is an internationally recognized expert in food addiction, and has spearheaded the public recognition of food addiction through an impressive writing and speaking career, and co-established and hosts the popular and paradigm-shifting Food Junkies Podcast. Not surprisingly, this new edition of her book reflects all that is established and known, and all that is new and exciting, in the field.
Food Junkies is a landmark work. In this thoroughly updated third edition, Dr. Vera Tarman masterfully blends cutting-edge science with compelling patient stories to illuminate the hidden epidemic of food addiction. Her compassionate voice, clinical expertise, and practical approach make this an essential guide for anyone seeking lasting freedom from the cycle of cravings, shame, and relapse. This book has the potential to transform both individual lives and the broader conversation around metabolic health and addiction.
Food Junkies names what so many of us have felt but couldn't explain. Vera Tarman combines the rigor of a clinician with the candor of someone who has lived this disease, and this third edition — with new material on GLP-1s and the stages of addiction — makes the science of food addiction impossible to dismiss. Essential reading for anyone who has ever wondered why 'just eat less' doesn't work.
In Food Junkies, [Dr. Vera Tarman] translates decades of addiction science into a compassionate and practical framework that resonates with both patients and clinicians. Her unique perspective — as both physician and person in recovery — allows her to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and the everyday realities of those struggling with food addiction ... She gives voice to patients whose experiences have too often been minimized, while advancing a biologically informed understanding of food addiction that offers genuine hope for recovery. This book is a testament to how far the field has progressed — from skepticism and controversy to a growing recognition that addictive eating is a legitimate clinical phenomenon deserving serious study, effective treatment, and compassion.
Food Junkies is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the science, psychology, and lived reality of food addiction. It brings together credible resources, practical strategies, and compassionate guidance in a way that is both accessible and deeply meaningful. I strongly recommend Food Junkies to patients, clinicians, and anyone looking for a clearer path toward recovery.
- Preface to the Third Edition
- This Book, Bite Size: My Message to You
- One: Eating, Eating, Eating: What Is the Problem with Me?
- Two: I Just Like to Eat! Eating and Overeating
- Three: Sugar Makes Me Happy!
- Four: So, What Exactly Is Food Addiction?
- Five: Are You a Food Addict?
- Six: The Food Fights: Addiction or Eating Disorder?
- Seven: Lawrence: The Tragic Story of a Food Addict
- Eight: Stages of Food Addiction
- Nine: Food Addiction: The Great Saboteur
- Ten: For the Anorexic
- Eleven: When You Just Can’t Get Enough: Volume Addiction
- Twelve: Navigating the Fasting Fad
- Thirteen: Hitting Bottom: I Need Help!
- Fourteen: What Do I Do Now?
- Fifteen: GLP-1s: The Bridge, Not the Cure
- Sixteen: First Things First: Stopping the Food
- Seventeen: Recovery in the Community
- Eighteen: Freedom Tastes Great! Finding Food Serenity
- Epilogue: A Happy Ending, One Day at a Time
- Endnotes