Bestselling author and health advocate Davinia Taylor says our food choices are being driven by dopamine, not biology. On Thursday 10th September, she will join LEON founder and CEO John Vincent for a live recording of The John Vincent Podcast, titled “How To Eat Like A Human,” to discuss how the modern diet is designed to override human biology and keep people trapped in cycles of exhaustion, overeating, and shame.
Taylor argues that eating has become tightly linked to emotion and the need to feel better, rather than to nourishment. “Instead of eating to fuel the body, millions of us are eating as a coping mechanism to soothe stress, numb discomfort and chase dopamine hits,” she says.
At the event, she will share her personal journey through guilt-driven eating habits and the emotional blocks she developed earlier in life, along with practical guidance on recognising the emotional cues that drive cravings.
What attendees will learn
Taylor will cover
- How dopamine drives cravings and how to break free from this cycle.
- The emotional triggers behind Britain’s most common food habits.
- What her lifestyle looked like previously, the changes she made, and the resulting physical and mental impact.
- Her guide from emotionally reactive eating to natural, stable routines.
“We don’t need more products or more trends. We need to understand what our emotions are doing when we go to choose what we eat, and that is what we will be discussing at this event,” Taylor adds.
Health experts increasingly note that ultra-processed foods and modern lifestyle pressures alter brain chemistry, creating reward-seeking behaviour that mirrors addictive patterns. When stress arises, the brain seeks fast comfort, prompting people to reach for high-sugar or high-fat foods that trigger dopamine releases. This loop often brings temporary relief followed by energy crashes and heightened anxiety, compounding the struggle for long-term emotional and physical balance. Understanding these neurological responses plays a pivotal role in ending chronic overeating and breaking free from guilt-driven dietary habits.
Event details
Date: Thursday 10th September
Time: 12pm–3pm
Location: LEON HQ, Copperfield Street, London SE1
Format: Live podcast recording followed by a Q&A with Davinia
Event link: The John Vincent Podcast
Admission: This event is exclusive to LEON Club members. Join the Club to access the waitlist, and you’ll get a notification as soon as tickets become available.