Ashley Gearhardt

Ashley Gearhardt is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the Clinical Science area within the Department of Psychology. She holds a B.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University and the University of Michigan, respectively. Her work focuses on food addiction, particularly how ultra-processed foods trigger addictive behaviors. She developed the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), a widely cited tool operationalizing addictive eating. Dr. Gearhardt’s Food and Addiction Science and Treatment (FAST) Lab employs neuroimaging and behavioral studies to explore food addiction’s neural mechanisms and environmental triggers like food advertising.

Her research bridges psychology and public health, addressing topics such as infant feeding patterns, food marketing’s impact on children, and the intersection of food addiction with obesity and substance use disorders. She has testified before U.S. Congress on ultra-processed food addiction’s societal implications. Notably recognized as one of the world’s top 2% scientists by citation metrics, her work has been featured in major media outlets. Her lab’s innovative methods include a simulated fast-food restaurant to study real-world food cue responses, emphasizing translational research for clinical and policy applications.

Her scientific contributions include over 100 publications, emphasizing validation of addiction assessment tools (e.g., mYFAS 2.0), neuroimaging correlates of weight gain, and the role of childhood trauma in eating behaviors. She collaborates globally, adapting her work for diverse populations and cultures. Current efforts focus on developing harm reduction treatments for food addiction and understanding how food insecurity intersects with addictive eating patterns.