Dr. Brown’s journey into this field began in addiction neuroscience, where she studied the brain pathways involved in compulsive drug use. But after witnessing similar patterns in how people interact with highly processed foods, she turned her focus to understanding what’s happening in the brain when we feel powerless around food. Her research bridges neuroscience and psychology, revealing why, for some people, saying no to chocolate can feel as difficult as saying no to a drug.

With her team at the University of Melbourne, Dr. Brown explores how high-fat, high-sugar foods hijack the brain’s reward systems, creating changes similar to those seen in addiction. She also studies why stress-related eating disproportionately affects women, showing that biology—not just emotion or willpower—plays a critical role in how we respond to food cues.

Here’s what we explore in this episode:

• How Dr. Brown’s background in addiction research led her to investigate food addiction and loss of control eating.
• What science reveals about the brain’s response to highly processed foods—and why some people are more vulnerable.
• The groundbreaking discovery that stress triggers overeating more strongly in women and the neural circuits behind it.
• Early results from her study on N-acetylcysteine (NAC)—a simple antioxidant supplement that may help reduce food cravings and restore self-control.
• Why the true hallmark of binge and emotional eating isn’t how much you eat, but the feeling of losing control.

Dr. Brown’s work offers both validation and hope. She helps us understand that overeating and food addiction aren’t simply about discipline or diet—they’re about biology, environment, and compassionately addressing the systems that drive our behavior.

If you’ve ever wondered why you eat when you don’t want to or felt trapped in cycles of craving and guilt, this conversation will help you see your experience through a new, science-backed lens.

Watch the full episode on the Beyond Binge Eating YouTube channel, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more expert insights and stories of recovery, science, and self-compassion.