Susan Peirce Thompson, Ph.D. is an expert in the psychology of eating and a recovering addict herself, bringing personal insight and lived experience to the field of Food Addiction. Her own journey through addiction — first to drugs and alcohol, and later to food — has profoundly shaped her life’s work. 

Dr. Thompson holds a Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester, where she focuses her research on the neuroscience of self-regulation, weight loss, and Food Addiction. She also has a strong academic background in cognitive psychology, having taught at the university level for many years. 

Professionally, Susan is best known as the founder and CEO of Bright Line Eating®, a global movement that has helped hundreds of thousands of people achieve sustainable weight loss and food freedom. Based on cutting-edge neuroscience and grounded in principles from Food Addiction recovery, Bright Line Eating offers a structured, online program that empowers individuals to rewire their brains and reclaim control over their eating habits. She has published multiple bestselling books, including the classic New York Times bestseller Bright Line Eating that explains the scientific underpinnings of food cravings, unrelenting hunger, and the willpower gap. Rezoom is all about relapse — how to conceive of it, what to do about it, and how to inoculate yourself against it. On This Bright Day is a daily meditation reader with inspiration to help Food Addicts in recovery to nurture a strong program each and every day. And The Official Bright Line Eating Cookbook has sugar and flour-free recipes for all occasions. Her fifth book, tentatively titled Maintain: The Surprising Psychology (and Simple Practices) to Keep Weight Off Forever is due to be published by Hay House / Penguin Random House in April, 2026. Her books have been published in multiple languages and have resonated with readers worldwide.

Dr. Thompson is also a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and Food Addiction. She has appeared on numerous media platforms and stages, sharing evidence-based insights with both professional and lay audiences. Her work continues to elevate public understanding of Food Addiction as a legitimate and serious condition, and she plays a pivotal role in advancing research, education, and treatment options in the field.