Obesity as a Neurobiological Disorder: A Paradigm Shift in Clinical Practice
Integrating emotional brain training (EBT) to Address the Root Cause—Physiologic Stress
While behavioral and metabolic interventions remain essential in obesity medicine, a growing body of research underscores the critical role of chronic physiologic stress overload in disrupting weight regulation mechanisms. Traditional approaches often overlook this underlying neural dysregulation, limiting the potential for sustained weight loss.
Emotional brain training (EBT) is a clinically validated method that targets the stress response at its source—maladaptive neuronal stress circuits. By promoting positive neuroplasticity of allostatic load, EBT supports normalization of the patient's set point and enhances patient outcomes across both behavioral and physiologic pathways.
Now, through the Solution Foundation, obesity medicine specialists can integrate EBT into practice with minimal staff disruption and evidence-based efficacy.
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation with EBT Founder, Laurel Mellin, PhD, or EBT Medical Director, Michele Welling, MD, to determine the optimal integration path of EBT for your clinic.
The Missing Link in Obesity Treatment: Chronic Physiologic Stress Overload
Understanding the Neurobiology Behind Treatment Resistance
Despite advances in pharmacologic, surgical, and behavioral interventions, long-term weight management remains elusive for many patients. This is not due to noncompliance or lack of willpower—but rather, a failure to address a core pathophysiological driver: dysregulated stress physiology.
Emerging research in neuroscience and metabolic medicine has identified three regions within the emotional brain that when stress activated are contributors to obesity, causing:
- HPA-axis hyperactivity and the chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system
- Dysregulation of the reward center, which increases hedonic food intake and hyperinsulinemia
- Stress-circuitry driven eating behaviors that increase allostatic load and promote weight recidivism
These findings shift the clinical paradigm: Obesity is not merely a behavioral or metabolic disease—it is a brain-based condition, deeply influenced by the dominance of neuronal stress circuits.
Why emotional brain training?
EBT is grounded in the science of neuroplasticity and developed to reverse the stress-related neural adaptations that drive weight regain and treatment resistance. By equipping patients with tools to access and rewire stress circuits, EBT:
- Targets the physiologic root cause of obesity
- Improves emotion regulation and adaptive behavioral stability
- Enhances the effectiveness of adjunctive therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and bariatric surgery
For clinicians committed to providing evidence-based, integrative care, EBT offers a new therapeutic dimension—bridging neurobiology with practical, scalable clinical tools.
Consult with Leaders in EBT
Laurel Mellin, PhD
Founder, EBT
Until her recent retirement, she served as an associate clinical professor of family and community medicine and pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Mellin has published numerous papers on the science and efficacy of EBT and is a New York Times bestselling author.
Michele Welling, MD
Medical Director and Master Trainer, EBT
Dr. Michele Welling is an Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Addiction Medicine physician with over 30 years of experience working with high-risk populations facing both mental and physical health challenges. As an EBT Master Trainer and the EBT Medical Director, Dr. Welling plays a pivotal role in shaping this innovative approach to healthcare.
Flexible Integration for Neuroscience-Based Obesity Care
EBT offers a scalable model of integration that aligns with the clinical, operational, and staffing needs of medical practices. Whether you aim to enhance your existing treatment protocols or deliver EBT services directly within your clinic, two certification levels are available:
Silver Certificate
Embed EBT Support into Your Practice
Designed for clinics that wish to offer patients access to EBT without requiring internal staff delivery.
Key Inclusions:
- Reframe obesity as a stress-related condition using the EBT 5-Point System
- Patient access to EBT tools: Provide discounted EBT memberships—$39/month Community Membership (Cost savings of 33%), including app-based support and skills training
- Clinical branding support: Receive customized in-office marketing collateral and a co-branded coupon code
- Professional development: Complimentary EBT community memberships for your team
- Staff benefits: Complimentary 1-hour on-demand introductory training course (includes 1 CDR CPEU)
- Clinical support: Weekly drop-ins with EBT Master Trainer
- Cost to your practice: FREE
Ideal for practices seeking to enrich care with minimal disruption and low administrative burden.
Gold Certificate
Deliver EBT Within Your Clinical Team
Designed for practices that want to fully integrate EBT delivery by certifying in-house professionals to lead sessions and groups.
All Silver Features, Plus:
- Staff certification: Train one or more RDNs, NPs, or other licensed health professionals in EBT delivery
- Program delivery options: Offer one-on-one EBT coaching and/or group training to patients in your clinic
-
Comprehensive professional training:
- Duration: 12 weeks—Have your staff start learning immediately via the EBT Professional Training Learning Portal
- Format: 1 hour/week video (on-demand), 1 hour/week experiential workshop (live), 1 hour/week advanced skills workshop (live), and 1 hour/week optional clinical support drop-in session (live)
- Discounted program cost: $399/month per participant (Regularly $499/month)
- Certificate recognition: Identify your practice as an EBT Weight Management Program—Gold Certificate
Best suited for clinics ready to lead EBT delivery and expand their in-house behavioral care capabilities.
Explore How EBT Can Enhance Your Clinical Outcomes
Schedule a Complimentary 30-Minute Consultation with the EBT Clinical Leadership Team
Whether you're considering enhancing your existing protocols or building a more comprehensive behavioral framework for obesity care, this is your opportunity to evaluate how emotional brain training can fit seamlessly into your practice.
Meet one-on-one with Laurel Mellin, PhD (EBT Founder) or Michele Welling, MD (EBT Medical Director) to:
- Assess your clinic's needs, patient population, and care model
- Explore the most appropriate certification level (Silver or Gold)
- Receive customized recommendations for implementation
These no-cost sessions are available on a limited basis and are designed to support clinical leaders in making informed, evidence-aligned decisions.
Ready to Get Started? Let's Move Your Certification Forward
If you're ready to begin the process of integrating EBT into your practice, you can skip the consultation and speak directly with our Manager of EBT Professional Training to take the next step.
Connect with Cassidy McCorkle, Manager of EBT Professional Training
Cassidy serves as the primary liaison for clinics and health professionals enrolling in the Silver or Gold EBT Certification Programs. She will guide you through:
- Program enrollment and onboarding
- Access to professional training materials and EBT kits
- Scheduling your introductory team training
- Setting up patient-facing tools and clinic branding
- Answering operational or administrative questions
Whether you're choosing the Silver or Gold track, Cassidy will help ensure a smooth and efficient onboarding experience tailored to your clinical setting.