How to Stop Binge Eating: Why Abstinence Works Better Than Moderation | Ellen Bennett

In this episode, I sit down with Ellen Bennett — registered dietitian, addiction-informed practitioner, researcher, founder of the Liberate program, and food addict in recovery. Ellen has spent years training as a clinician, and finally conducting groundbreaking research that's challenging everything that the field of eating disorders has taught us about food, moderation, and recovery.Ellen brings something rare to this space: lived experience grounded in rigorous science. She didn't just survive food addiction — she spent years asking the medical establishment for evidence it even existed, and when they told her there was none, she went back to school, worked on her doctorate, and created that evidence herself.Here's what we cover in the episode:Ellen's childhood foundation — allergen restrictions that kept her safe, then the moment at age seven when processed foods became accessible, and how her body respondedThe progression of her food addiction through adolescence — constant mental preoccupation, hip surgery, weight gain, and the shame that followed her into adulthoodWhy commercial diet programs made everything worse — "moderation" meant nothing to her addicted brain, and no one asked whyHow she became a dietitian, and why asking doctors for evidence of food addiction changed her life trajectoryThe Liberate program: what it is, how it differs from traditional diet and eating disorder programsHer groundbreaking research findings — 46% reduction in food addictionseverity, 44% reduction in binge eating symptoms, and what that means for the moderation vs. abstinence debateWhy traditional eating disorder treatment got it backwards — and the story of a woman forced to prove she could eat in moderation to be discharged, who found relief through abstinence insteadHow abstinence-based approaches can actually reduce binge eating (contrary to everything the field of eating disorders warned us about)Meeting people where they are — why one-size-fits-all moderation doesn't work for everyone, and why informed choice mattersHer future research plans — nutrient density studies, her dream retreat center for food addiction recovery, and getting Liberate into the NHSWhy finding community matters when your family doesn't understand — and how the growing addiction-informed food community is making space for people walking this pathCome to the Meat & Movement Retreat in Costa Rica!https://www.MeatandMovement.comFollow Beyond Binge EatingInstagram: / https://www.instagram.com/BeyondBingeEating/Website: https://www.BeyondBingeEating.comNewsletter: https://beyondbingeeating.com/Newsletter/Grab your FREE Eat-With-Awareness Bundle to slow down, stay present, and reclaim peace with food: https://beyondbingeeating.com/opt-in/Keep in touch with Kristina:https://www.DrKristinaDobyns.comConnect with Ellen:https://www.liberatetoday.orgTimestamps:00:00 | Intro & Guest Introduction01:10 | Personal Story Begins01:47 | Childhood: Allergen Restrictions & the Shift at Age 702:33 | Weight Gain Progression: A Stone Per Year03:15 | Hip Surgery & First Diet Attempts03:45 | The "Unlimited Chips" Diet Trap04:21 | Low-Fat Diet Failures & Doctor Blame05:00 | The Stealing Realization (HOOK)05:17 | Orlistat Medication Side Effects05:46 | Sugar-Free Chocolate Bus Story18:00 | Asking for Evidence: The Turning Point20:14 | What is Liberate Program20:49 | How Liberate Differs: No Weight Talk, It's About Coping29:09 | Research Results: 46% Reduction in Food Addiction30:11 | Research Results: 44% Reduction in Binge Eating30:56 | The Woman Forced to Prove Moderation34:03 | Low-Carb Stabilizes Blood Sugar & Mood37:50 | The Creation and Validation of CRAVED42:30 | Food Addiction and Type II Diabetes47:55 | Future Dreams: Retreat Center & NHS Integration52:54 | How to Connect & Next StepsDisclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.