Blauvelt, NY – Toward Health has released new research in Frontiers in Psychiatry confirming that food addiction and binge eating can be significantly improved through a virtual, lifestyle-first approach, without the need for medications or surgical interventions. The peer-reviewed study, conducted in a real-world employee wellness setting, demonstrates the power of the TOWARD model to address compulsive eating behaviors with fewer side effects and greater sustainability than traditional treatments.

Key findings:

40.7% reduction in food addiction symptoms

34.7% reduction in binge eating symptoms

81% of participants improved binge eating symptoms

Benefits observed independent of weight loss

Fewer side effects than pharmacologic alternatives

Participants followed the TOWARD model:

Text-based support, Online care, Wellness coaching, Asynchronous education, Real-time biofeedback, and Dietary change using Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction (TCR). The program emphasized whole foods, daily support, and remote monitoring.

This study shows that people struggling with food addiction and binge eating deserve more than willpower and medication,” said Dr. Tro Kalayjian, Toward Health Founder and Chief Medical Officer. “They deserve a program built around real food, real support, and real results.

Unlike conventional interventions such as restrictive dieting, stimulants, or bariatric surgery, which carry known risks and side effects, TOWARD delivers clinically meaningful improvements in eating behaviors using an accessible and personalized care model. The study findings also compare favorably to the outcomes from medications like lisdexamfetamine and semaglutide, with fewer adverse events and greater potential for long-term sustainability.

Dr. Laura Buchanan, MD at Toward Health, adds:

This is a powerful reminder that we can address the root causes of compulsive eating with compassionate, lifestyle-based care. It’s not just possible, it’s proven.

Toward Health offers dedicated programs that build on these findings, including Food Addiction Recovery and GLP-1 Off-Ramp support for individuals who want to reduce or stop medication use while improving long-term health. These offerings are grounded in the same sustainable, lifestyle-first model validated by the study.

Toward Health continues to demonstrate that a comprehensive, remote care model can improve metabolic and mental health at scale. This latest publication adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the TOWARD approach as a safe, effective, and scalable solution for employers, healthcare systems, and individuals alike.

Read the full study in Frontiers in Psychiatry: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1612551/full

Click here to contact us if you would like to bring the TOWARD model to your life, workplace, or clinic.