Dr. Jen Unwin: Why Ultra-Processed Food Addiction Needs Medical Recognition

Why are so many people struggling with sugar cravings, binge eating, obesity, and chronic disease — even when they desperately want to stop?

In this episode of the Kick Sugar Coach Podcast, we explore the growing scientific movement to recognize ultra-processed food addiction as a legitimate medical condition. Joined by clinical health psychologist Dr. Jen Unwin, we unpack the evidence behind food addiction, why ultra-processed foods may hijack the brain’s reward system, and why official recognition could change the future of treatment, research, and recovery.

Dr. Jen Unwin shares her personal journey with sugar addiction, her work helping people reverse type 2 diabetes through low-carb and whole-food approaches, and the international effort to have “Ultra-Processed Food Use Disorder” recognized by major medical organizations like the WHO and DSM.

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL DISCOVER:

• Why ultra-processed food addiction is a legitimate medical condition — not a lack of willpower
• The groundbreaking work Dr. Unwin and her husband Dr. David Unwin have done helping over 150 patients achieve drug-free type 2 diabetes remission
• The ongoing campaign to get ultra-processed food use disorder recognized by the WHO's ICD and the American Psychiatric Association's DSM
• The CRAVED screening tool — 6 simple questions that can help identify food addiction symptoms
• Why official recognition would unlock research funding, treatment programs, and real change
• How GLP-1 medications relate to food addiction treatment
• What YOU can do right now to support the movement

If you’ve ever wondered why some foods feel impossible to control, this conversation offers both insight and hope. 

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