Can Junk Foods Be Addictive? The Science on Food Addiction & its Implications (15 Wellness Points)
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Have you ever thought that junk foods might be as addictive as cigarettes, alcohol, and gambling? If so, you might be interested in the science on food addiction.
This wellness talk will aim to shed light on food addiction by first identifying how food addiction is defined and assessed in the research. Then, data will be presented to illustrate the prevalence of food addiction and most commonly endorsed symptoms across different groups of individuals, as well as the roles of junk foods in food addiction. In addition, this talk will discuss the implications of food addiction for pursuing wellness within our current food environment.
Karly Derrigo, B.S., is a first-year psychology master's student working under the mentorship of Drs. Erica Schulte and Meghan Butryn in the Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science (WELL Center). Karly works on research studies evaluating the validity and clinical utility of food addiction, as well as assessing evidence-based weight loss treatments. Her research interests focus on evaluating eating disorders, food addiction, and body dysmorphia, and, in the future, she would like to explore how these presentations can be more effectively targeted in treatments. Prior to joining Drexel, Karly earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a neuroscience concentration, and a minor in biology at the University of Massachusetts: Amherst. Karly also worked as a mental health counselor at Walden Behavioral Care for Eating Disorders and the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Institute at McLean Hospital.
Jennifer Schwartz, Ph.D.,ABPP is a board-certified licensed clinical psychologist, teaching professor, and the Director of the Psychological Services Center (PSC) in the Department of Psychology at Drexel. Drexel’s PSC is a training clinic that serves the Philadelphia community. There, Dr. Schwartz trains clinical psychology graduate students in state-of-the-art therapeutic approaches of patient assessment and treatment.
Contact Information
Monica Fauble
215-895-1708
mfauble@drexel.edu