Rewiring anorexic habits is possible through a combination of cognitive mechanisms and habit-breaking strategies. Andrew Huberman explains that these methods involve teaching individuals to recognize their internal states and cues leading to their habits. This process includes improving their ability to perceive their internal state, known as interoception, and associating interactions with different types of food with internal cues like quickening heart rate or hyper-focus. Once individuals learn to notice these cues, they can start to intervene effectively 1.

An integral part of this approach includes family-based models, where the entire family supports the individual by understanding the biology and psychology of the disorder. This reduces condemnation and increases support for the individual in recognizing and changing their habits 2. These cognitive behavioral therapies are often more effective when combined with pharmacologic treatments, targeting both the psychological and physiological aspects of the disorder 2.

Additionally, an interesting aspect of anorexic habits is how the brain's reward system gets skewed. The brain begins to reward the anorexic for avoiding high-calorie foods and approaching low-calorie foods, reinforcing unhealthy habits. Therefore, interventions must target these ingrained neural circuits to effectively rewire habits 3.

Finally, experimental treatments like MDMA and psilocybin are being researched for their potential to open brain plasticity and help rewire these deep-seated habits. However, these treatments are still undergoing clinical trials, and Dr. Huberman advises against pursuing them outside a medically supervised setting until more data is available 4.