10 Food Addiction Books That Experts Recommend Most

Insights from Sarah Jones, Chris Evans, and John Robbins highlight top Food Addiction books for lasting recovery and wellness

Sarah Jones
Chris Evans
Fran Drescher
Updated on June 28, 2025
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What if the foods you crave most are not just about willpower, but deeply wired in your brain and biology? Food addiction affects millions, yet understanding it remains a challenge. Today, experts like John Robbins, president of the Food Revolution Network, and Mark Hyman, head of strategy at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine, are shining light on this complex issue through powerful books that explore the science and psychology behind food cravings.

John Robbins highlights how Rezoom offers fresh perspectives on breaking the relapse cycles that trap many in unhealthy eating patterns, while Mark Hyman praises practical tools that transform food from a health liability to a longevity asset. Meanwhile, Sarah Jones, writing for New York Magazine, found Sugar Addiction No More for Diabetics invaluable for managing cravings with an anti-inflammatory diet. These voices represent a cross-section of medical, nutritional, and personal experience that provide you with reliable, actionable insights.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific metabolic health, emotional triggers, or lifestyle might consider creating a personalized Food Addiction book that builds on these insights and speaks directly to your unique challenges and goals.

Best for breaking relapse cycles
John Robbins, best-selling author and president of the Food Revolution Network, highlights his firsthand experience with Bright Line Eating's impact on food addiction. "From the founding of Bright Line Eating, I have witnessed firsthand the astounding results for people in our community struggling with tenacious food addiction," he shares, emphasizing the healing power this approach has offered both body and mind. His perspective carries weight given his leadership in food reform and long-standing advocacy. Alongside him, Mark Hyman, a leading figure in functional medicine, praises the book's tools for transforming food from a health risk to an asset, reinforcing why this book deserves your attention if you're aiming to break free from processed-food addiction.

Recommended by John Robbins

Best-selling author, Food Revolution Network president

From the founding of Bright Line Eating, I have witnessed firsthand the astounding results for people in our community struggling with tenacious food addiction. They are healing their bodies and minds at extraordinary rates never before documented, while turning away from the toxic industrial processed food complex and healing our planet. (from Amazon)

Rezoom: The Powerful Reframe to End the Crash-and-Burn Cycle of Food Addiction book cover

by Susan Peirce Thompson Ph.D., Everett Considine··You?

2021·264 pages·Addiction, Food Addiction, Psychology, Behavioral Change, Recovery Strategies

Drawing from her background as a brain and cognitive sciences professor, Susan Peirce Thompson Ph.D. challenges the usual cycle of relapse in food addiction recovery by introducing the Rezoom Reframe. This approach helps you understand the biological and psychological roots of food cravings and addiction to break free from crash-and-burn dieting patterns. The book integrates lessons from Everett Considine’s Internal Family Systems therapy to tackle inner resistance and self-sabotage, offering a system to sustain recovery. If you struggle with persistent food addiction or yo-yo dieting, this book offers a fresh perspective and practical insights to change how you relate to food and yourself.

New York Times Bestseller
Published by Hay House LLC
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Best for metabolic health improvement
Fran Drescher, known for her role in The Nanny and as a cancer survivor and founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement, brings a unique perspective to recommending this book. She highlights Dr. Gioffre's passion and expertise, emphasizing how his personal loss fueled a mission to educate on living optimally. Her endorsement underscores the book's impact on vitality and disease risk reduction. Drescher's journey adds emotional weight to the plan presented in this book, making it clear that this is more than a diet book—it's a guide to reclaiming health and energy. Alongside her, Dorian Greenow, founder of Keto-Mojo, praises the straightforward approach to ending sugar addiction and restoring metabolic health, reinforcing the book's practical value.
FD

Recommended by Fran Drescher

Cancer survivor; Founder of Cancer Schmancer Movement

Many people know me from The Nanny, but I'm also a cancer survivor and the Founder of the Cancer Schmancer Movement. I'm proud to say that Dr. Daryl Gioffre is a distinguished member of my medical advisory board. He is an incredible force and amazing motivator. He has turned his own pain into purpose after the passing of his beloved father and it is you and I who are the lucky recipients of his passion to educate us on how to live our best life! If you want to function at an optimum, feel a vibrancy you never thought possible, and reduce your risk of Dis-ease, then read Dr. Gioffre's book and start feeling better than ever! (from Amazon)

Drawing from his expertise as a functional nutritionist and anti-inflammation specialist, Dr. Daryl Gioffre tackles sugar addiction head-on by linking it to inflammation, brain fog, and chronic disease. The book unfolds in three phases: detoxing your mind and body, crushing cravings, and adopting a sustainable strength-based eating lifestyle, with practical strategies like clean keto and intermittent fasting included. You'll find 65 recipes designed to stop cravings and support metabolic health, making it clear how diet impacts your energy and overall wellness. If you're aiming to break free from sugar's grip and reduce stress eating, this book offers a focused, manageable plan without oversimplifying the challenge.

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Best for personal recovery plans
This personalized AI book about food addiction is created based on your unique background, current challenges, and specific goals. Using your input, the book focuses on the aspects of overcoming addiction and rebuilding habits that matter most to you. By tailoring content to your interests and lifestyle, it provides a clear and relevant pathway through complex recovery topics that a generic guide can’t match. This AI-created book helps you engage deeply with the material that supports your personal journey towards lasting change.
2025·50-300 pages·Food Addiction, Craving Management, Habit Rebuilding, Emotional Triggers, Behavioral Change

This tailored book offers a focused exploration of personalized strategies to overcome food addiction and maintain long-term recovery. It covers the psychological, physiological, and behavioral aspects that contribute to addictive eating patterns, guiding you through a 90-day journey crafted specifically to your background and goals. By addressing your unique triggers and lifestyle factors, it reveals how to rebuild sustainable eating habits and manage cravings effectively. This personalized approach ensures the content matches your interests and learning needs, enabling a deeper understanding of recovery mechanisms and promoting lasting change.

Tailored Guide
Craving Management
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for trauma-informed recovery
Rudy Kachmann, a neurosurgeon and author renowned for his work in wellness, encountered this book amid rising concerns about obesity and diabetes. He calls it a crucial resource: "We are facing an epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes with its acute, chronic, debilitating, deadly diseases. Fast food and sugars are horribly addictive. This book completely describes the problem and gives a solution." His endorsement reflects the book’s ability to clarify a complex health crisis and offer hope. Likewise, Michael Klaper, a respected physician, praises Emily Boller's candid narrative and nutritional insights, recommending it strongly for those battling food addiction. Together, their perspectives highlight why this book resonates as a guide for lasting recovery and health.

Recommended by Rudy Kachmann

Neurosurgeon, Author, TV wellness expert

We are facing an epidemic of obesity and Type 2 diabetes with its acute, chronic, debilitating, deadly diseases. Fast food and sugars are horribly addictive. This book completely describes the problem and gives a solution. A great book! I would recommend it to everyone. (from Amazon)

2019·160 pages·Addiction, Nutrition, Food Addiction, Emotional Eating, Weight Loss

Emily Boller's personal story of battling food addiction, marked by childhood obesity and anorexia, forms the heart of this book, enriched by Joel Fuhrman M.D.'s nutritional expertise. You’ll gain insight into how trauma and grief intersect with addiction and relapse, alongside practical guidance for long-term recovery and health restoration. Chapters blend Emily’s lived experiences with evidence-based nutritional principles, offering you a nuanced understanding of food addiction beyond willpower alone. This book suits anyone struggling with emotional eating or seeking sustainable strategies to break free from destructive eating patterns.

Published by Post Hill Press
Author of multiple wellness books
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Best for overcoming sugar cravings
Frank Lipman, founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, emphasizes the challenge of removing sugar from diets despite its addictive nature. He praises Molly Carmel's book for providing precise guidance on quitting sugar, stating, "In Breaking Up with Sugar, Molly Carmel tells us exactly how to do it. I would recommend this to every one of my patients and anyone who wants to be healthier." Lipman's clinical experience adds weight to this endorsement, making the book a compelling choice for anyone ready to tackle sugar addiction. Similarly, Martha Beck highlights the book's realistic and well-researched approach, reinforcing its value for those seeking healthier lives.

Recommended by Frank Lipman

Founder Eleven Eleven Wellness Center

All my patients know what I think about sugar—that it is poison, and people are addicted to it. I want to get sugar, in all its forms, out of their diets, but that, as they say, is easier said than done. In Breaking Up with Sugar, Molly Carmel tells us exactly how to do it. I would recommend this to every one of my patients and anyone who wants to be healthier. (from Amazon)

2019·288 pages·Addiction, Food Addiction, Sugar, Weight Loss, Nutrition

Molly Carmel, a social worker with advanced training in addiction and nutrition, draws from her own 20-year struggle with disordered eating to present a 66-day plan to break free from sugar addiction. You’ll learn how sugar alters your brain chemistry, making moderation nearly impossible, and how to navigate the emotional and physical challenges of quitting. The book offers meal plans, self-affirmations, and a structured approach to ending compulsive eating cycles. If you’re caught in repetitive dieting or battling cravings, this book provides a clear map to a healthier relationship with food and yourself, though it’s less suited for those seeking quick fixes or fad diets.

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Best for brain health focus
Susan Albers, New York Times Best-Selling Author known for her expertise in emotional eating, emphasizes the importance of mental calmness in combating food addiction. She shares that Mike Dow’s approach "providing the brain with moments of stillness, silence, and serenity are essential in our modern world" adds a valuable tool to your mental health toolkit. This perspective highlights how the book doesn’t just focus on diet but integrates brain wellness practices that can shift your relationship with sugar. Together with insights from Andrea Pennington, who praises the balance of brain chemistry and detox strategies, this book emerges as a thoughtful guide for anyone ready to make lasting changes.

Recommended by Susan Albers

New York Times Best-Selling Author

Providing the brain with moments of stillness, silence, and serenity are essential in our modern world. Mike’s technique is yet another tool to put in your arsenal of clinically validated practices. (from Amazon)

2020·360 pages·Diet, Food Addiction, Sugar, Brain Health, Keto Diet

Dr. Mike Dow's decades of experience in psychotherapy and brain health led to the development of a program that addresses a seldom-discussed consequence of diet: the shrinking brain caused by sugar and bad fats. In this book, you’ll learn how to combat "Sugar Brain" through a 28-day plan combining intermittent fasting, a modified Mediterranean diet, and psychological techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis. The book breaks down complex neurochemical processes into understandable concepts, offering practical methods to reduce cravings while promoting brain regeneration. This approach will resonate with anyone struggling to overcome addictive eating patterns and seeking to improve both mental clarity and physical health.

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Best for personal detox plans
This AI-created book on sugar detox is crafted based on your specific background, experience with sugar, and health goals. You share which aspects of sugar dependence you want to address, and the book is written to focus on your interests and challenges. By tailoring the content, it offers a clear, manageable pathway to reduce cravings and improve health that fits your unique lifestyle and preferences.
2025·50-300 pages·Food Addiction, Sugar Detox, Addiction Recovery, Nutritional Adjustment, Craving Management

This personalized 30-Day Sugar Detox System explores an intensive, focused approach to eliminating sugar dependence while improving overall health. Tailored to your background and goals, it covers the physiological effects of sugar, identifies triggers for cravings, and guides you through a step-by-step plan designed to suit your lifestyle and preferences. The book examines nutritional adjustments, behavioral shifts, and supportive practices that align with your unique needs, ensuring the content matches your interests and learning pace. By integrating expert knowledge with your individual experience, this tailored guide reveals how to navigate sugar withdrawal while fostering sustainable wellness.

Tailored Guide
Sugar Dependency Science
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for mindful eating beginners
Davina Chessid is a personal development coach who has overcome out-of-control eating. She guides others to a perspective empowering them to change their circumstances. Her firsthand experience with food addiction deeply informs this book, making it a relatable and insightful guide for anyone struggling with similar challenges.
2023·133 pages·Addiction, Food Addiction, Emotional Eating, Binge Eating, Self Sabotage

The methods Davina Chessid developed while overcoming her own struggles with binge and emotional eating power this book's approach. You’ll learn to identify the patterns and resistances that keep you trapped in mindless eating, with five clear steps to build a healthier connection to food. Chessid’s mix of candid journal entries and practical guidance unpacks the emotional roots behind food addiction and offers ways to break self-sabotaging habits. If you’ve wrestled with compulsive eating or stress-driven food behaviors, this book lays out a gentle yet purposeful path to regain control and make peace with eating.

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Best for daily recovery reflection
Susan Peirce Thompson, Ph.D., a New York Times best-selling author and brain science expert, wrote this book to provide daily inspiration and scientific guidance for lasting food freedom. Her background in cognitive sciences and leadership of the Institute for Sustainable Weight Loss underpin the book's approach to breaking addictive food cycles through reflection and habit change.
On This Bright Day: A Year of Reflections for Lasting Food Freedom book cover

by Susan Peirce Thompson Ph.D., JoAnn Campbell-Rice PhD··You?

2023·416 pages·Food Addiction, Self Compassion, Behavior Change, Neuroscience, Mindfulness

Susan Peirce Thompson, a brain and cognitive sciences expert and New York Times best-selling author, brings her scientific insight into daily reflections designed to help you break free from food addiction and yo-yo dieting. This book offers a day-by-day guide that blends neuroscience with practical encouragement, helping you cultivate self-compassion, heal your relationship with food, and develop habits supporting lasting recovery. Whether you follow Bright Line Eating or another approach, you'll find thoughtful prompts aimed at sustaining peace around eating and igniting a life beyond food obsession. Chapters weave in the latest research, making complex psychology accessible and applicable to your journey.

New York Times Bestseller
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Best for DBT-based emotional eating
Barrett Huang brings a unique blend of psychology expertise and personal experience with OCD and anxiety to this workbook. Having completed the DBT skills certificate course by Dr. Marsha Linehan, he channels this knowledge into practical lessons designed to help you overcome emotional eating. His passion for minimalism and mental wellbeing shines through as he guides you toward healthier eating habits and emotional resilience.
2023·172 pages·Food Addiction, Mental Health, Emotional Eating, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Stress Management

Barrett Huang's background in psychology and personal journey managing OCD and anxiety deeply inform this workbook, making it a guided exploration rather than a generic self-help manual. You learn to distinguish emotional eating from stress or binge eating, using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to develop healthier coping mechanisms and rebuild your relationship with food. Chapters include practical worksheets on mindfulness, self-acceptance, and managing loneliness, providing concrete tools to address the emotional triggers behind compulsive overeating. If you seek to understand the psychological roots of your eating habits and want a hands-on approach grounded in DBT, this book offers a focused path tailored to those struggling with food addiction and emotional distress.

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Best for structured 12-step recovery
The 2nd Edition AWOL Workbook offers a focused pathway through the 12 Steps of Recovery specifically tailored for individuals battling food addiction. This updated and expanded guide supports AWOL groups worldwide, providing personal and private exercises that facilitate deep engagement with recovery principles. If you are seeking a resource that moves beyond general advice to a structured, step-oriented process, this workbook can serve as a valuable companion on your journey to reclaim control over your eating habits and build lasting recovery.
2019·238 pages·Food Addiction, Addiction, Recovery, Self Help, Mental Health

Unlike many books on food addiction that offer broad advice, this workbook takes you through the 12 Steps of Recovery with a clear, structured approach developed for AWOL groups globally. It provides a hands-on guide to navigating the challenges of food addiction recovery, encouraging reflection and personal growth through targeted exercises. You’ll find practical tools to support your journey, such as step-by-step prompts that help unpack your relationship with food and build healthier habits. This workbook is especially useful if you are actively engaged in recovery or looking for a methodical path to overcome addictive eating behaviors, rather than seeking a purely theoretical discussion.

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Best for diabetics managing sugar
Sarah Jones, a writer at New York Magazine known for her sharp insights into health and culture, discovered this book while seeking better ways to manage sugar cravings in her own family. She calls "Sugar Addiction No More for Diabetics is an outstanding resource for anyone looking to control their sugar intake. The recipes are delicious, and the actionable guide is easy to follow." Her endorsement reflects how Laura Garrett’s blend of culinary expertise and health research reshaped her views on diabetes management. Following Sarah’s recommendation, Chris Evans also praised the book’s practical advice and tasty recipes, reinforcing why this guide resonates beyond just nutritional circles.
SJ

Recommended by Sarah Jones

Writer at New York Magazine

Sugar Addiction No More for Diabetics is an outstanding resource for anyone looking to control their sugar intake. The recipes are delicious, and the actionable guide is easy to follow. I highly recommend this book! (from Amazon)

What if everything you knew about managing sugar cravings as a diabetic was incomplete? Laura Garrett, a seasoned chef turned health advocate, explores the intricate link between sugar addiction and diabetes, showing how inflammation and gut health factor into blood sugar control. You’ll learn targeted strategies for reducing sugar intake, managing cravings, and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, supported by recipes that avoid refined sugars. This book is tailored for diabetics who want practical nutritional guidance without medical jargon, but it’s equally insightful for anyone curious about how sugar impacts metabolic health.

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Conclusion

This collection reveals key themes: the critical role of brain chemistry and emotional health, the importance of structured recovery methods like DBT and 12-step programs, and the power of nutrition-focused strategies to manage cravings and restore wellbeing. If you're grappling with persistent relapse, start with Rezoom for its innovative relapse prevention techniques. For rapid nutritional shifts, Get Off Your Sugar and Breaking Up With Sugar offer clear, actionable plans. Those seeking emotional tools will find DBT Workbook For Emotional Eating invaluable.

Combining these resources can accelerate your journey toward food freedom, blending science, psychology, and practical steps. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Food Addiction book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. These books can help you accelerate your learning journey and reclaim control over your relationship with food.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Rezoom if you're dealing with relapse issues, as it offers a fresh approach to breaking addictive cycles. For a nutrition-focused start, Get Off Your Sugar provides practical steps to reduce cravings and improve metabolic health.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Food Addiction?

No, many books like Food Crazy Mind and Breaking Up With Sugar are accessible for beginners, offering clear steps and emotional support to build a healthier relationship with food.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational books addressing your primary struggle—whether cravings, emotional eating, or recovery structure—then explore complementary titles for deeper insights and practical tools.

Should I start with the newest book or a classic?

Focus on the book that best matches your current challenges. Newer books often include updated research, but classics like Starved to Obesity provide valuable personal narratives and foundational knowledge.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick the book that resonates most with your needs. Each offers distinct perspectives, so choose based on your goals, but combining insights often leads to better outcomes.

Can personalized Food Addiction books complement these expert titles?

Yes! While these expert books offer essential knowledge, personalized books tailor strategies to your unique background and goals, bridging expert insights with your specific situation. Learn more here.

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