Audit a URL →

Sign in Sign up free

Loading…

Weekly · Sunday Morning

Five longevity claims.
Worth your time.
Every Sunday.

Last Sunday

Rapamycin extends mouse lifespan 9–14%
NAD+ precursors reverse aging in humans
Blue-light glasses improve sleep quality
Walking 10 min after meals blunts glucose
Verdict change — caffeine half-life downgraded

5 audits·1 verdict change·0 affiliate links·Every Sunday

Joining 1,247 readers — founders, MDs, and longevity-obsessed people who fact-check their own health decisions.

Browse

Decisions Claims Content Creators

Product

Audit a URL Sunday roundup API (soon)Pricing

About

FAQ Methodology Editorial Standards Corrections Press & brand RSS feed

Legal

Terms of Service Privacy Policy DMCA

Finally, something serious in this space.
Because we actually read the papers.

© 2026 Whalespan. Independent, evidence-graded longevity.

Loading…

Biology & Treatments for Compulsive Eating & Behaviors | Dr. Casey Halpern — Whalespan

Content›Video›Biology & Treatments for Com…

Biology & Treatments for Compulsive Eating & Behaviors | Dr. Casey Halpern

Andrew Huberman2h 15m · 2022-09-26

Support Rate

65%

136 of 208 claims supported

Support rate

136 of 208 claims supported

136 supported72 partial / not

Claims from this content

139

✓Well SupportedInside Tracker's platform provides actionable protocols to adjust blood markers into ideal ranges for health.✓Well SupportedRegular blood work is essential for monitoring factors impacting immediate and long-term health.✓Well SupportedAn Eight Sleep mattress cover can improve sleep by increasing speed of falling asleep, reducing nighttime awakenings, and enhancing feelings of refreshment upon waking.✓Well SupportedMomentous supplements are offered as a single source for supplements discussed on the Huberman Lab Podcast.✓Well SupportedSingle-ingredient supplement formulations allow for flexible dosing strategies.

More from Andrew Huberman

Andrew Huberman on Creatine

Huberman X thread: creatine and aging

Andrew Huberman on Morning Sunlight

Discussion

Native comments, Twitter mentions, and Reddit threads about this content — surfaced together so the conversation isn't fragmented across platforms.

M

Share your read of this content…

Posting publicly as you · linked to your social profiles

Sort by:

AV

A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

NP

N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

✓Well Supported

Achieving 180-200 minutes of Zone 2 cardio per week has significant positive effects on longevity, cardiovascular function, metabolic fuel utilization, and musculature.

✓Well SupportedEight Sleep smart mattress covers provide heating, cooling, and sleep tracking, which are crucial for mental health, physical health, and performance.

✓Well SupportedThe neural network newsletter is a free monthly newsletter with summaries and toolkits for sleep, learning, plasticity, and dopamine regulation.

✓Well SupportedControlling the sleeping environment's temperature helps regulate body temperature for better sleep onset, maintenance, and waking.

◐Partially SupportedA significant portion of individuals with OCD do not respond to CBT, SSRIs, or their combination.

◐Partially SupportedAblation procedures for OCD may be safe with minimal side effects but patients may be hesitant due to a low chance of transformative effect.

✓Well SupportedPatients with binge eating disorder may frequently experience a loss of control at meals, even if they do not consume enough to meet the definition of a binge.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation and capsulotomy are therapeutic options for severe OCD patients who have failed medication.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation is being studied for mental health disorders like OCD and depression.

✓Well SupportedThe speaker meditates daily for a few minutes in the morning and at night to level-set himself.

◐Partially SupportedProbiotics in Athletic Greens (AG-1) are vital for microbiotic health, which impacts immediate and long-term health.

◐Partially SupportedSSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants are first-line medications for OCD, targeting the serotonin system.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation can improve compulsive behaviors and mood in patients with Parkinson's disease.

◐Partially SupportedStimulants can rapidly engage thinking and behavior, leading to obsessions and compulsions, and can quickly cease when the stimulant is stopped.

◐Partially SupportedCertain aspects of obsessive-compulsive traits, when controlled, may be an asset and are observed in successful individuals.

◐Partially SupportedRepeated exposure to highly rewarding stimuli can hijack normal functioning of the nucleus accumbens.

◐Partially SupportedObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be considered a spectrum disorder, where some individuals may exhibit obsessions and compulsions without meeting full diagnostic criteria for OCD.

◐Partially SupportedAthletic Greens (AG-1) is a drink that covers foundational nutritional needs and supports gut health.

◐Partially SupportedA target for obesity and binge eating disorder has been developed from mouse models and is believed to be relevant for humans.

◐Partially SupportedStimulating limbic circuits involved in emotion through deep brain stimulation can be therapeutically modulated for conditions like depression.

◐Partially SupportedIndividuals in 1960s studies preferred self-stimulating areas associated with mild anger and frustration over those promoting sexual arousal, emotional joy, or drunkenness.

◐Partially SupportedUrges that put oneself or others at risk should be avoided.

◐Partially SupportedDevices could potentially measure changes in voice inflection or movement speed to alert individuals to an impending depressive episode.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation involves implanting a thin, insulated wire deep into a specific brain region to deliver electrical stimulation.

◐Partially SupportedProbiotics in AG-1 are vital for microbiotic health, which impacts health by communicating with the brain and immune system.

◐Partially SupportedExposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy highly effective for OCD, involving exposure to stressors and habituation.

◐Partially SupportedMost individuals with binge eating disorder are overweight, and many with obesity may have some degree of binge eating disorder or loss of control eating.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation can provide immediate relief of tremor in Parkinson's disease patients.

◐Partially SupportedMRI-guided focused ultrasound is an FDA-approved method for non-invasively ablating brain tissue.

◐Partially SupportedNeurosurgeons treat conditions including brain tumors, aneurysms, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and spine issues.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens and its projecting cortical areas are likely key circuits involved in compulsive behaviors and reward-seeking disorders.

◐Partially SupportedImproving awareness of internal states like cravings or drug use may be effective for improving outcomes.

◐Partially SupportedThe mechanism by which SSRIs work is not fully understood, despite their clear efficacy in a subpopulation for depression, OCD, and anxiety disorders.

◐Partially SupportedStimulating electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus can disrupt tremor circuits and alleviate tremors in Parkinson's disease.

◐Partially SupportedFocused ultrasound is effective for treating tremor in one side of the body.

◐Partially SupportedContinuous deep brain stimulation for binge eating disorder may lead to a diminishing benefit over time.

◐Partially SupportedZone 2 cardio can be performed through activities like rowing, cycling, or swimming, in addition to jogging, for 60-75 minutes at the specified intensity.

◐Partially SupportedStimulating brain regions near deep brain stimulation electrodes can cause temporary side effects like laughter or panic.

◐Partially SupportedEngineered devices can stimulate brain neurons to treat compulsions related to eating disorders.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation for compulsive behaviors involves a brief delivery of stimulation (5-10 seconds) intended to disrupt signaling in the nucleus accumbens.

◐Partially SupportedNeuroimaging studies implicated portions of the basal ganglia, such as the caudate putamen, in OCD.

◐Partially SupportedUltrasound stimulation may offer more precise targeting of specific brain areas compared to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

◐Partially SupportedNeurosurgeons may learn to siphon off physical energy into other limbs to stabilize their hands during precise procedures.

◐Partially SupportedThe target for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may differ for addiction compared to depression and OCD.

◐Partially SupportedPatients with obesity who exhibit food compulsion are similar to anorexics, as both result from compulsions to over- or under-eat.

◐Partially SupportedFor individuals with obesity advised to lose weight, not pursuing better food choices represents an urge that likely needs treatment.

◐Partially SupportedLoss of control eating can occur dozens of times per week.

✕Not SupportedThe spatial precision of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not very good.

◐Partially SupportedThe systemic nature of pharmacological treatments, impacting various neurotransmitter systems without targeting specific cell populations, explains the existence of side effects.

◐Partially SupportedStimulating specific parts of the subthalamic nucleus can alleviate tremors in Parkinson's disease.

◐Partially SupportedNinety percent of neurosurgical procedures nationwide involve treating spinal conditions.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation and transcranial focused ultrasound are procedures performed by stereotactic functional neurosurgeons.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens is a brain region involved in reward processing and interconnects with many other brain areas.

◐Partially SupportedA deviation of two to three millimeters from the target location in the brain can result in a lack of desired outcome.

◐Partially SupportedAG-1 is a foundational nutritional supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and probiotics.

◐Partially SupportedIn obsessive-compulsive disorder, cortical control areas involved in inhibitory control do not function properly.

◐Partially SupportedEssential tremor is ten times more common than Parkinson's disease and is the most common neurological condition in individuals over 70.

◐Partially SupportedStimulating certain areas of the amygdala can make people feel good, while stimulating other areas can cause fear.

◐Partially SupportedNeurosurgeons avoid activities like heavy deadlifts to protect their hands due to the impact on motor neurons and the need for fine control.

◐Partially SupportedBinge eating disorder affects 3-5% of the population and is likely underdiagnosed in individuals with obesity.

◐Partially SupportedCheaper foods tend to be more refined, palatable, and potentially dangerous, altering reward circuits negatively and increasing cravings.

◐Partially SupportedStereoencephalography involving invasive electrodes to map seizure origins in epilepsy patients is commonplace and safe.

◐Partially SupportedIntermittent stimulation delivered only when a craving signal is detected is more robust for treating binge eating disorder than continuous stimulation.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation and other approaches treat movement disorders like essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, and dystonias.

◐Partially SupportedTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is FDA-approved for treating depression, OCD, and nicotine addiction.

◐Partially SupportedPower lifting, with close supervision from an experienced trainer, can be beneficial for individuals in highly specialized professions to improve physical function.

◐Partially SupportedDeadlifting can be a great exercise if performed under the careful supervision of an experienced trainer.

◐Partially SupportedCognitive behavioral therapy can be effective for less severe patients with behavioral disorders by improving awareness, but its effects may not be lasting in the absence of continued therapy.

◐Partially SupportedCapsulotomy, an ablation technique for OCD, involves heating or destroying small brain tissue areas (3-4mm) and can be helpful with no obvious side effects after recovery.

◐Partially SupportedPatients with severe OCD, anorexia, or binge eating disorder may still lose control of their behavior despite being highly aware of their cravings and problems.

◐Partially SupportedA non-invasive approach for anorexia is critical due to risks of wound erosion with invasive devices in underweight patients.

◐Partially SupportedThe TMS coil is placed on the scalp over the frontal lobe for depression, OCD, and nicotine addiction.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation using tiny electrodes (less than 1mm diameter) is a safe and effective procedure for epilepsy with a low complication rate.

◐Partially SupportedAnorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric conditions, including depression, due to potential death from suicide or metabolic complications of being underweight.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation can provide immediate relief for symptoms of psychiatric disorders.

◐Partially SupportedA two-hit hypothesis may apply to the development of eating disorders like binge eating disorder.

◐Partially SupportedThe goal of invasive trials targeting the nucleus accumbens is to restore its normal functioning.

◐Partially SupportedMeditation is a valuable tool for managing stress.

◐Partially SupportedExercising in the morning before work led to a 20-pound weight loss over three months without intentional dieting, attributed to better sleep and self-care.

◐Partially SupportedA deep brain stimulation trial is underway to modulate the nucleus accumbens in patients with obesity who failed gastric bypass surgery, believed to be due to binge eating disorder.

◐Partially SupportedLoss of control eating is a common feature across eating disorders, obesity, addiction, and potentially OCD.

◐Partially SupportedUltrasound is being investigated to open the blood-brain barrier for targeted medication delivery.

◐Partially SupportedStimulants can exploit the brain's vulnerability.

◐Partially SupportedStimulant use may lead to an overdrive of the prefrontal and orbital frontal cortex, potentially exacerbating OCD-like behaviors.

◐Partially SupportedViewing pictures of craved foods can provoke food cravings.

◐Partially SupportedNeurosurgeons avoid activities that carry a risk of hand injury to protect their fine motor skills.

◐Partially SupportedAwareness of one's own thinking is powerful for individuals with OCD, anorexia, or binge eating disorder.

◐Partially SupportedBoth elevated and decreased autonomic arousal can lead to binging.

◐Partially SupportedBeing slightly fatigued may help reduce physical compulsions.

✕Not SupportedDrinking coffee late at night with sugar provides a temporary energy boost but leads to a crash and is a poor decision.

◐Partially SupportedMeditation, even when using an app, is beneficial if practiced regularly.

◐Partially SupportedA non-invasive TMS target for anorexia and obesity might one day be possible by targeting superficial structures connected to deep brain regions.

◐Partially SupportedApproximately 20% of patients with obesity may have addictive tendencies or a degree of binge eating disorder/loss of control eating.

◐Partially SupportedThe term 'craving' is used to describe the desire to binge in patients with binge eating disorder or obesity because it is relatable.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens may harbor cells that promote craving in the fasted state.

◐Partially SupportedResearchers are exploring MRI-guided focused ultrasound to modulate neuronal activity.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens, involved in reward and craving, may also be involved in anorexia nervosa by reinforcing resistance to eating or cravings of the fasted state.

◐Partially SupportedTics, common in young males, can be exacerbated by fatigue and may lead to conditions like Tourette Syndrome.

◐Partially SupportedImpulsivity is characterized by acting on urges without waiting for appropriate cues or conditions.

◐Partially SupportedAndrew Huberman experienced a grunting tic as a child that provided relief and occasionally returns when he is fatigued.

◐Partially SupportedSome non-invasive brain stimulation approaches are not well understood, making them less precise.

◐Partially SupportedEpisodic therapy delivered at the right time can interrupt circuit aberrations leading to dangerous behaviors like binge eating.

◐Partially SupportedElectrodes in the nucleus accumbens can detect and block cravings associated with reward-seeking behaviors like overeating.

◐Partially SupportedFirst-in-human trials require patients to be awake to establish precise brain locations for intervention.

◐Partially SupportedStrength training should be combined with cardio.

◐Partially SupportedA moment of pre-meal negative affect often precedes binge eating or drug seeking behavior.

◐Partially SupportedElectrical signals from tremor cells in Parkinson's patients can be converted to audible signals to identify target areas for intervention.

◐Partially SupportedIn mice, a predictive signal for loss of control can be used to deliver real-time deep brain stimulation to block the behavior.

◐Partially SupportedSevere OCD can manifest as an urge to repeatedly check if a door is locked, causing distress and an inability to sleep.

◐Partially SupportedHuman conditions like OCD and depression may be due to humans not evolving to manage current societal stresses.

◐Partially SupportedThe development of eating disorders likely involves a genetic predisposition combined with environmental exposure to palatable foods, followed by a recurring stressful life event.

◐Partially SupportedModern society's readily available, highly palatable, and refined foods, particularly those with excess sugar and fat like high fructose corn syrup, are problematic because humans are not evolved to consume them.

◐Partially SupportedCompulsive behaviors share a common denominator of pursuing an urge or reward despite significant risk.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens is a central hub of the brain's reward circuits involved in OCD, reward, and addiction.

✕Not SupportedCombining stimulants like ephedrine with coffee may trigger or worsen tics and superstitious behaviors.

◐Partially SupportedNeurosurgeons may use meditative practices or other tools to enter a focused state before operating.

?Limited ResearchA consistently effective non-invasive brain stimulation approach for anorexia is likely a long way off.

◐Partially SupportedObese individuals who feel embarrassed by their weight may give up on improving their health.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation targeting the nucleus accumbens or Area 25 has shown preliminary benefits for anorexia.

◐Partially SupportedHeadaches after eating highly refined or palatable foods may be an evolutionary signal discouraging consumption.

◐Partially SupportedTaking the stairs instead of elevators is a viable strategy to incorporate exercise when time is limited and can improve cardiovascular fitness.

◐Partially SupportedTaking the stairs to the 12th floor became a habit that no longer caused windedness after a year.

✕Not SupportedHistorical brain probing experiments lack significant learning value due to imprecise electrode placement and lack of advanced imaging.

◐Partially SupportedModulatory experiments are needed to understand psychiatric conditions and define optimal ultrasound treatment targets.

◐Partially SupportedThe nucleus accumbens can be targeted with deep brain stimulation to control loss of control eating.

◐Partially SupportedA brief (5-10 second) stimulation to temporarily elevate mood may disrupt the craving-to-binge cycle in individuals with loss of control eating.

◐Partially SupportedDeadlifting when supervised by an experienced trainer improved posture significantly, despite minor injuries from performing it alone without proper attention.

◐Partially SupportedResistance training of approximately six hard sets per muscle group per week is important to offset muscle and skeletal deterioration and maintain tendon strength.

◐Partially SupportedInterventions will eventually target specific diseased areas in the human brain with non-invasive approaches like ultrasound lesioning or modulation.

◐Partially SupportedTargeting specific brain regions may help elicit disease-specific symptoms in OCD.

◐Partially SupportedTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is being studied to modulate a circuit that improves OCD.

◐Partially SupportedBrain surgeries generally involve a small opening in the bone and are typically painless due to local anesthetic and IV sedation.

◐Partially SupportedDeep brain stimulation with TMS can be achieved indirectly by targeting superficial structures with high connectivity to deep structures.

◐Partially SupportedThe approach of using electrodes to target brain regions for depression is reversible.