NYU Psychologist: The Truth About Why You Can't Stop Eating (and What Actually Works)

If you struggle with emotional eating, stress eating, or binge eating, this episode will change how you see yourself. Mel has received thousands of messages asking for an episode on overeating and body image. So she brought in one of the country's top experts to answer your questions. Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, NYU professor, and eating behavior specialist who has worked with thousands of people battling food noise, emotional eating, and obesity. She has a refreshing, shame-free perspective on cravings, weight, and why willpower has nothing to do with it. In this episode, you'll learn how to: -Stop the cycle of binge eating and restriction for good -Interrupt stress eating before it starts -Understand the biology behind food noise and cravings -Rebuild a healthy relationship with food without shame -Create sustainable habits that actually stick Whether you feel confused, exhausted, or stuck when it comes to food and your body, this conversation brings clarity and real tools, grounded in science, not diet culture. Dr. Goldman will change the way you think about eating disorder recovery, your body, and your cravings. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-376/ In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 01:58 The Best Breathing Technique You Should Be Doing 08:26 The Relationship Between Food and Emotion Explained 15:32 What Most People Get Wrong About Overeating 19:18 Why Stress Causes People to Overeat 25:39 Stress Eating Isn't About Willpower 35:47 How to Communicate With Someone Who Struggles With Their Eating 37:50 Is Counting Macros Healthy? 40:07 How to Eat Mindfully Without Feeling Hungry 46:13 What to Cook for Someone Who Has Issues With Eating 51:54 What To Do When You're in a Overeat-Restrict Cycle 01:03:14 The Healthiest Way To Use GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs 01:10:12 How to Support a Loved One Order Mel’s new product, Pure Genius Protein: http://puregeniusprotein.com/MP Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Dr. Rachel GoldmanguestMel Robbinshost

Mar 9, 20261h 17mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: March 9, 2026
Duration: 1h 17m
Channel: The Mel Robbins Podcast
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

If you struggle with emotional eating, stress eating, or binge eating, this episode will change how you see yourself. Mel has received thousands of messages asking for an episode on overeating and body image. So she brought in one of the country's top experts to answer your questions. Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, NYU professor, and eating behavior specialist who has worked with thousands of people battling food noise, emotional eating, and obesity. She has a refreshing, shame-free perspective on cravings, weight, and why willpower has nothing to do with it. In this episode, you'll learn how to: -Stop the cycle of binge eating and restriction for good -Interrupt stress eating before it starts -Understand the biology behind food noise and cravings -Rebuild a healthy relationship with food without shame -Create sustainable habits that actually stick Whether you feel confused, exhausted, or stuck when it comes to food and your body, this conversation brings clarity and real tools, grounded in science, not diet culture. Dr. Goldman will change the way you think about eating disorder recovery, your body, and your cravings. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-376/ In this episode: 00:00 Meet the Guest 01:58 The Best Breathing Technique You Should Be Doing 08:26 The Relationship Between Food and Emotion Explained 15:32 What Most People Get Wrong About Overeating 19:18 Why Stress Causes People to Overeat 25:39 Stress Eating Isn't About Willpower 35:47 How to Communicate With Someone Who Struggles With Their Eating 37:50 Is Counting Macros Healthy? 40:07 How to Eat Mindfully Without Feeling Hungry 46:13 What to Cook for Someone Who Has Issues With Eating 51:54 What To Do When You're in a Overeat-Restrict Cycle 01:03:14 The Healthiest Way To Use GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs 01:10:12 How to Support a Loved One Order Mel’s new product, Pure Genius Protein: http://puregeniusprotein.com/MP Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

SPEAKERS

Dr. Rachel Goldman
guest
Mel Robbins
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Dr. Rachel Goldman and Mel Robbins, NYU Psychologist: The Truth About Why You Can't Stop Eating (and What Actually Works) explores stress eating decoded: pause, reframe, and rebuild body trust today Dr. Rachel Goldman breaks down how diet culture and chronic stress shape body image, “food noise,” and reactive eating, emphasizing that emotional eating is common and not a willpower failure. She teaches a “pause” practice (diaphragmatic breathing plus grounding statements) to create space between emotion and behavior, then outlines a coping toolbox and a 10-minute buffer to interrupt impulsive eating.

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