Dr. David Wiss, a mental health scientist and registered dietitian nutritionist, discusses the relationship between nutrition, addiction, and mental health, with a focus on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and depression. His work is based on a functional medicine approach that considers complex neurobiological, hormonal, and emotional factors, challenging the simple “calories in, calories out” model. Dr. Wiss, the founder of Nutrition in Recovery and the Wise Mind Nutrition mobile app, notes that depression is moderately correlated with food addiction and that research suggests a link between increased UPF consumption and a higher risk of depression. He explained that UPFs displace nutrient-dense foods, have a poor nutritional profile, and can be inflammatory due to neoformed compounds, food additives, and packaging

Dave advocates for a shift from quantitative nutrition (like counting calories) to a qualitative approach, emphasizing qualitative outcomes such as mood, outlook, and sleep. His core message is that people should eat real food, include a varied diet rich in plant colors and fiber, and address nutrient deficiencies and associated biological issues before making new psychiatric diagnoses. Dr. Wiss also outlines three major areas of nutrition for mental health: nutrients supporting the brain (like omega-3s and B vitamins), gut health, and nutritional psychology, which addresses the role of stress, trauma, body image, and diet culture. He mentions that dietary counseling focused on eating minimally processed foods and reducing UPFs has been shown to decrease depression levels in randomized controlled trials.

This BSI Medical Society Webinar was streamed on October 27, 2025.

A 10-minute summary of the webinar is available here free, for anyone, while the full video is available for Medical Society Members and MetFix affiliates in their dashboard.