The Science of Why You Eat When You're Not Hungry–And How to Stop | Judson Brewer

Dr. Jud breaks down how habits work and how to change them. Plus, insights on stress, boredom, mindfulness, pleasure, satisfaction, and contentment.

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Judson Brewer M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally renowned addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist and a bestselling author. He is a professor in the School of Public Health and Medical School at Brown University. His new book is called The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We’re Not Hungry and How to Stop.

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In this episode we talk about:

• The scientific evidence behind Dr. Jud’s approach 
• The difference between satisfaction and contentment
• The difference between hedonic and homeostatic hunger
• Why changing behavior may not require you to dig into your past
• “Unforced freedom of choice”
• The “bigger better offer”
• The “pleasure plateau”
• Habits vs. addictions
• “The hunger test” 
• The Buddha’s advice on eating
• Whether or not we can still eat gummy worms

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Related Episodes:

• Dr. Jud’s anxiety Q&A
• Dr. Jud on anxiety as a habit
• Dr. Jud on addiction and bad habits
• Evelyn Tribole on intuitive eating