by Rich Weil, M.Ed., CDE
Founder and Director
Transformation Weight Control

Neurotransmitters such as dopamine are chemicals in the brain that play a key role in food cravings and addiction. When you eat, or even just think about, see, or smell food, dopamine is released from the brain region called the ventral tegmental area, and end up in the prefrontal cortex, which helps with cognitive processing so you gain control over your thoughts, feelings, and behavior (such as food intake).

For neurotransmitters to work, they must bind to specific receptors that are programmed for a specific task. For instance, in the context of food, dopamine receptors, when activated by dopamine, send signals to other cells that help you feel pleasure and reward related to eating. But when these systems are overstimulated by overuse, receptors can become damaged, leading to food cravings and the desire to overeat to get “your fix”, ultimately ending up as addiction and weight gain.

At TWC, we teach the science behind food addiction and neurotransmitter functioning to help you understand that your struggles with food and body weight are not due to character flaws, moral failings, nor lack of willpower or self-discipline. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. It’s a biological problem that we address with research-based information and the support of empathetic, educated, and experienced staff, and like-minded peers who “get it”. In my 44-year-career, I never met anyone who woke up one day and thought what a cool thing it would be to have a problem with eating, their weight, or food addiction.

Join us and we will help you gain control over food, and remove the isolation, shame, and even self-loathing, that you’ve suffered with all your adult life, or all your life, when it comes to excess body weight. We’ll support you and show you the way. We’re committed to it and we’re rooting for you. 

For more detail on neurotransmitters and control of eating, read my blog, “How Neurotransmitters Work and Affect Eating Habits – The Whole Nine Yards! 

© Richard Weil, M.Ed., CDE, 2024 All Rights Reserved