In this powerful episode, we speak with Jessica Parker, a coach who brings both lived experience and deep compassion to her work with individuals struggling with food addiction. At just nine years old, Jessica experienced the trauma of divorce and the sudden shift into a blended family with five new sisters. Food quickly became the language of love in her home, but it also fueled disordered eating patterns that spiraled into guilt, shame, and obsession around food. Years later, Jessica reached 360 pounds, underwent both gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgeries, and began to see firsthand the limitations of relying on restriction and surgery alone.Today, Jessica is abstinent from offending foods and volume and thriving after decades of obesity, two major surgeries, and a history of drug and food addiction. A graduate of the INFACT School, she combines science with empathy to guide clients seeking relief. She knows the struggle of trying to control food and weight with willpower or medical intervention and offers a spiritual and recovery-based solution that goes deeper than restriction. Her work centers on teaching that freedom from food obsession is possible—through abstinence, recovery, and connection.Jessica is passionate about meeting people before they undergo gastric bypass surgery, helping them explore a path to recovery that doesn’t rely solely on surgery. With warmth and honesty, she shares her own journey of learning to recognize emotions like anger, breaking free from food obsession, and discovering true freedom. Connect with her on Facebook at Taste of Freedom (https://www.facebook.com/people/A-Taste-of-Freedom/61576852342384/), on Instagram at A Taste of Freedom Coaching (https://www.instagram.com/atasteoffreedom.coaching), or reach out directly at email: [email protected] to learn more about her coaching and recovery approach.

Mike Fetherston has walked a long, humbling road through addiction and recovery. one that has included alcohol, drugs, food addiction, bulimia, and as a result, morbid obesity which plagued him for much of his life. His struggle began early. By the age of two and a half, Mike was already turning to food as a coping mechanism, saying he loved food and wanted to feel as full as he could, from as early a time as he could remember.

Childhood brought emotional instability and deep discomfort, and food quickly became his escape. As his addictions grew, he eventually faced life-threatening consequences not only from substance use but also from disordered and compulsive eating.

Mike found sobriety from drugs and alcohol in 2005. Three years later, in 2008, he entered his first 12-step food recovery program, beginning what he often calls the hardest journey of all. Food was harder than drugs or alcohol. He admits, wrestling with the question of whether complete abstinence from food was even possible, and often would think to himself that people who said they had it were either lying or didn’t have it as bad off as he did.

For the next decade, he cycled through food addiction and eating disorder treatment programs and countless 12-step meetings. Despite his best efforts, lasting recovery eluded him. Eventually, he reached a point of total desperation, physically broken, emotionally hopeless, and eating to die. Then, in a moment he least expected, the right combination of desperation, willingness, and support came together for him. It marked the turning point toward the most profound recovery and wellness he had ever experienced.

Since 2018, Mike’s recovery has not been perfect or linear. He has relapsed more than once, but each time, he has returned to the support and structure needed to realign with his recovery. He believes his life depends on maintaining abstinence, and his resilience lies in never giving up and continuing to show up and seek recovery even when hope felt out of reach. Mike believes that if recovery can happen for a Man as hopeless as he was, then it can be had by anyone.

Now in his 50s, Mike is healthy, thriving, and enjoying a beautiful life with his family. He has maintained a 150-pound weight loss for many years and speaks openly about how addiction nearly took his life but recovery gave him a new one.

Mike’s story is also one of service and joy. He transformed his love of food and a lifelong passion for cooking into a recovery-focused mission. Since 2020, he has led hundreds of cooking and meal-planning classes at Milestones in Recovery (https://www.milestonesprogram.org/),  known as Cooking with Mike. In these sessions, he shows that people in recovery from eating disorders and food addiction can enjoy abundant, delicious, and nourishing meals while maintaining abstinence. His philosophy is simple: recovery doesn’t mean deprivation, it means positive transformation, supported by planning and mindful preparation.

In Fall of  2020, Mike enrolled in the INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/), deepening his knowledge of food addiction and treatment. That education inspired him to expand his role from recovery sponsor to certified counselor, allowing him to guide others professionally. He now encourages others who feel called to this work to pursue certification as well.

Sakinah Osborne is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Clinical Director at Milestones In Recovery (https://www.milestonesprogram.org/) —a leading residential treatment center in South Florida that specializes in food addiction and eating disorders. Milestones is one of our valued podcast sponsors, known for its abstinence-based, holistic approach to recovery. With a compassionate, multidisciplinary team, Milestones offers personalized care that helps clients heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a supportive, home-like environment.

Sakinah brings a profoundly human and multidimensional perspective to her work. Before becoming a therapist, she served nearly three years in the U.S. Army. She built a successful career in sales and management, skills that continue to enhance her empathy, leadership, and communication as a clinician. She completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Florida International University and her clinical internship at Milestones in 2017. Today, she guides clients through detox, manages the complex emotional and behavioral dynamics of food addiction, and helps design personalized recovery plans that foster long-term transformation. 

Her path to this work is rooted in powerful personal experience. Raised by a single mother with a survival mindset and estranged from an alcoholic father, Sakinah struggled with abandonment and emotional disconnection from an early age. She remembers feeling suicidal at just seven years old. After battling debilitating postpartum depression, she recognized she had been living with untreated depression most of her life. It was through seeking therapy that she found not only healing, but her calling—to help others find hope and freedom from emotional pain. 

Today, Sakinah leads with cultural sensitivity, clinical expertise, and a deep belief in the possibility of change. At Milestones, she witnesses profound client transformation as individuals begin to understand the grip of food addiction and learn new ways of living. Her journey—from the Army to sales to clinical leadership—is a testament to the power of purpose, healing, and service. She is passionate about helping clients discover lives of peace, joy, and self-acceptance.

Guests Amanda Leith  SHiFT, Recovery By Acorn and Esther Helga Guðmundsdóttir, INFACT School both experienced the misery of obesity and countless failed diets—until they discovered their real problem: food addiction, a brain disease. Like many late-stage food addicts, they used food to cope with life, consuming far more food than their bodies needed. Once they recognized their addiction, they began abstinent food plans and recovery programs, shedding excess weight and doing the emotional work required to heal. Today, they live at healthy body weights and enjoy freedom from food addiction—one day at a time. Today, they devote their lives to helping others understand and recover from this illness.Food addiction is a substance use disorder involving ultra-processed foods, similar to alcohol or drug addiction. Amanda and Esther assess clients using food use history and tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Sugar—technically not a food but an additive—has over 260 names and is often hidden in products through deceptive labeling by food companies.Many of their clients have tried everything to control their food use and/or lose weight, often arriving desperate and willing to try something new. At SHiFT, Amanda guides clients toward abstinence from addictive foods while addressing the emotional drivers behind food use. As cravings and withdrawal pass, clients gain relief from the addiction and obsessive food thoughts and learn to enjoy eating whole, nourishing foods.Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, we cannot abstain from food entirely, which makes food addiction more complex. Yet the solution lies in abstaining from addictive foods and engaging in emotional recovery work.Phil Werdell, website, a pioneer in the field, greatly influenced Amanda and Esther. His teachings on powerlessness and denial are foundational to their treatment approach, and they credit him for shaping their understanding and protocols.Amanda explains the difference between emotional eating and true food addiction in this episode. While emotional eaters may recover through therapy alone, food addicts must first remove addictive substances and engage in structured recovery with support. At SHiFT, Recovery By Acorn, food and emotional issues are treated concurrently.With chronic disease and metabolic dysfunction at crisis levels—primarily driven by poor nutrition, food addiction, and obesity—Esther Helga argues that food companies knowingly exploit this addiction for profit.The International Food Addiction Conference will hold its second event in London, September 4–5, 2025, highlighting food addiction and its comorbidities. At the 2024 London conference, an influential group of professionals reached a Consensus:   Ultra-Processed Food is a Substance Use Disorder.   Advocacy continues to classify food addiction within the ICD (World Health Organization) and the DSM (American Psychiatric Association), paving the way for insurance coverage of treatment.Don’t miss this powerful episode as we explore food addiction—its root causes, and the hope of recovery.

Barney Reason is a recovering food addict who has also overcome addictions to alcohol, drugs, and compulsive behaviors. His journey began early—he had his first drink at age 7 and got sober from alcohol by 25 years old. But as the alcohol stopped, his food addiction escalated, leading him to a peak weight of 365 pounds. 

Barney grew up in a deeply unstable environment, marked by abuse, neglect, and chaos—he lived in 16 different homes in 16 years. As a child, his emotions, especially anger, were not welcomed or validated. In response, he turned to food, substances, and compulsive behaviors to soothe his anxiety and numb his pain. 

For years, Barney sought relief from overwhelming feelings, not realizing that the intensity of his emotions was part of being human. Today, he embraces those feelings, knowing they pass, and feels more alive than ever. 

Barney’s recovery has been long and difficult, but he now uses his experience to help others find hope and healing through 12-step recovery. Barney became a Certified Food Addiction Professional (https://infactschool.com/treatment-certification-program/) through the the INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/)

He is on staff at SHiFT, Recovery by Acorn (https://foodaddiction.com/) a food addiction treatment program which is committed to supporting people recover from food addiction and lead better lives.    He helps with SHiFT’s Intensive Treatment program, where attendees learn to experience sobriety from addictive eating, along with the incredible new freedom.   

Barney Reason’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and the possibility of achieving lasting freedom from addiction, as well as the gifts of helping others recover.

David Wolfe is a certified food addiction counselor and co-founder of SUGARx Global (https://www.sugarxglobal.com/), an online community dedicated to helping individuals overcome sugar and food addictions. David has been instrumental in developing impactful programs that support people successfully finding freedom from addictive food behaviors. He is also the co-author of The Fix For Cravings (https://tinyurl.com/yhnnnc3x) with Cynthia Myers-Morrison a book offering practical strategies and insights for managing cravings and maintaining long-term recovery.

David emphasizes community support, connection, and comprehensive lifestyle changes in the recovery journey. His approach blends professional expertise with personal experience to provide holistic, compassionate support for those struggling with food and sugar addiction.

At SUGARx Global, trained counselors use assessments to help clients identify patterns of food and sugar use and cravings. Many clients arrive after trying countless approaches and suffering the painful consequences of food addiction. Through personalized tools and counseling, clients begin to recognize the addictive nature of certain foods and behaviors. The process often uncovers layers of denial, shame, and guilt, creating space for acceptance and willingness to heal. Counselors guide clients to plan, prepare, and remove trigger foods, which are essential steps toward recovery.

David also addresses common misconceptions about food addiction, urging patients to educate their healthcare providers on this often misunderstood condition. He highlights the power of group support, emphasizing how shared vulnerability and collective momentum within groups can drive lasting change.

Although David’s personal story is not one of obesity, he struggled with obsessive and compulsive food thoughts and behaviors. It wasn’t until he attended the The INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/) that he fully realized his own patterns of food addiction.

This episode offers valuable, educational insights into what food addiction is, how to recognize it, and how to recover—making it essential listening for anyone seeking understanding, hope, and actionable solutions.

Dr. Adrian Soto-Mota brings a unique blend of expertise as a practicing clinician, data specialist, researcher, and educator at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the largest university in Latin America.

The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) (https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/fastlab/yale-food-addiction-scale/) is the most widely used food addiction screening tool worldwide. Dr. Soto-Mota utilized another food addiction screening technique, CRAVED (https://the-chc.org/assets/uploads/CRAVED%20Introduction%20and%20Notes%20for%20the%20User_Update_240506.pdf), a shorter yet effective screening method, in his research. His study distinguishes between binge-eating disorder and food addiction, highlighting key differences. While binge-eating disorder is recognized in the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual, food addiction as a substance use disorder is not—an important distinction. 

Having experienced childhood obesity himself, Dr. Soto-Mota understands the personal impact of food addiction and is deeply committed to addressing the ongoing childhood obesity crisis in Mexico.

In May 2024, he participated in the IFACC conference in London, where he signed a groundbreaking Consensus Statement (https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a00ee3aa6c.html). This agreement, developed by 40 experts over many months, recognizes ultra-processed food addiction as a substance use disorder. The next IFACC London Conference is set for 2025: IFACC London Conference 2025 (https://the-chc.org/fas/conference),

Dr. Soto-Mota emphasizes that while food addiction is not our fault, we have a personal responsibility to acknowledge it and take steps toward recovery to live healthier, fuller lives. Tune in to this insightful episode.

Sachir Ajlouni’s incredible journey from obesity and food addiction to recovery is a story of hope and transformation. Weighing 450 pounds at his heaviest, Sachir spent over 30 years trapped in a cycle of compulsive overeating and failed attempts at weight loss, including bariatric surgery. It wasn’t until he entered SHiFT, Recovery by Acorn (https://foodaddiction.com/) a food addiction recovery program that he realized the true nature of his struggle: it wasn’t just about his weight or eating habits—it was his addiction to food that had been controlling his life. After seeing success from others, he entered a food addiction program where he met Phil Werdell (https://www.foodaddictioninstitute.org/post/in-loving-memory), founder of SHiFT, Recovery by Acorn.   

Through his own recovery, Sachir lost 250 pounds and gained a deeper understanding of how food can be as addictive as alcohol or drugs. He now devotes his life to helping others break free from the chains of food addiction through Aglon Recovery (https://aglonrecovery.com/), a center he founded to offer support and healing. 

Sachir’s workshops help people recognize that food addiction is real and that overcoming it requires more than just willpower. It’s about understanding the emotional and psychological drivers behind eating behaviors and taking responsibility for recovery once the problem is recognized. 

If you’re struggling with your own relationship with food, or if you know someone who is, this podcast offers an opportunity to hear firsthand how recovery is possible. Sachir’s story is a testament to the power of self-awareness, support, and commitment to change. Tune in to listen to an inspiring account of resilience and recovery—and learn how you, too, can begin your journey toward healing. 

Dr. Bonnie Nolan holds a PhD in neuroscience and is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. With expertise in both neuroscience and psychotherapy, she works on the front lines of opioid addiction, understanding the brain's dopamine response to addictive substances. She also recognizes how genetics, environment, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression contribute to addiction.

Having struggled with alcohol addiction herself, Dr. Nolan has been in recovery for years, seeing addiction’s prevalence in her large family. Her experience at the The INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/) led her to identify as a food addict, a diagnosis confirmed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Food_Addiction_Scale). She believes ultra-processed foods should be included in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-V)of the American Psychiatric Association as a substance use disorder.

Dr. Nolan’s work focuses on the link between childhood trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and addiction, with many clients unaware of or minimizing past traumas. She leads group recovery courses, including one for women with food addiction, where she helps them process trauma and gain control over what they can change. Dr. Nolan has witnessed the brain’s ability to reset and the potential to reverse the dopamine response to addictive substances through recovery practices.  Dr. Nolan has witnessed firsthand the possibility of reversing the dopamine response to ingesting substances through recovery practices.  This podcast episode is excellent and delves into Dr. Nolan’s unique blend of education, professional expertise, and personal experience in addiction and treatment.

The INFACT School (https://infactschool.com/) is the only school in the world that teaches students about the science of food addiction and how to treat it.  Graduates receive a Certified Food Addiction Professional (CFAP) which is recognized in Europe and the U.S.  This seven-month virtual training program involves speakers and many top professionals who study the disease of food addiction. Students are taught screening, assessments and intake technique processes involving looking at behaviors and addiction genealogy. They are trained in counseling and treatment for abstinence and the reversal of personality changes that happen as a person becomes addicted to a substance. 

The guest is the podcast owner and highly respected pioneer and school’s founder, Esther Helga Gudmundsdottir, a recovered food addict who released 130 lbs. to achieve a healthy weight through abstinence and working a 12-step food addiction recovery program.  She then knew what her life’s mission would be: help other food addicts by opening a treatment center in Iceland and beginning the INFACT School.  Over 130 students have graduated from the school, with new classes offered in March and September each year.  

We discuss the science behind food addiction, which is just like the addiction to alcohol and drugs: a dopamine response, and over time, experiencing higher tolerance, using more of the substance despite negative consequences. Late-stage food addicts are often obese with obesity-related health issues and cannot stop on their own from eating the offending foods, and once they start, they have difficulty stopping.  

37 clinicians, researchers, and academics throughout the world have reached an agreement that food addiction, specifically ultra-processed food addiction, is a substance use disorder.  The International Food Addiction Consensus (IFAC) (https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a00ee3aa6c.html) met in London, U.K. in May 2024, and a conference is planned in Mexico City in September 2025 as the application is being submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) to be placed in the International Classification of Disease, (ICD) to place ultra-processed food addiction as a substance use disorder, in the ICD.

Esther believes in complete abstinence from sugar and addictive foods, along with treatment and recovery programs to recover from food addiction. Her work and that of the school have been impactful and revolutionary.  Listen to this wonderful interview with Esther Helga Gudmundsdottir. Yale Food Addiction Scale https://infactschool.com/yale-food-addiction-survey/