Episode 216: Dr. Jon Davis

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman speaks with Dr. Jon Davis, a principal investigator on the study Changes in Alcohol Use After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Davis is a principal scientist at Nova Nordisk, where he researches how gut-brain signaling mechanisms regulate appetite and metabolic disorders. His work explores the neurobiological connections between obesity, bariatric surgery, and substance use disorders—examining how bariatric procedures may increase the risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) through gut microbiome and brain reward pathway alterations.

The Food Junkies Podcast team is particularly interested in whether similar mechanisms might predispose post-bariatric surgery patients to sugar or food addiction.

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What We Discuss in This Episode:

🔹 Dr. Davis’ Background & Research Journey – From an interest in neuroscience and memory formation to studying brain plasticity, substance use, and ultimately, bariatric surgery.
🔹 Unexpected Discoveries – How interviews with post-bariatric surgery patients and their spouses revealed a pattern of increased alcohol consumption.
🔹 Clinical Findings – Research has consistently shown that some patients who were low consumers of alcohol pre-surgery develop AUD post-surgery, while frequent drinkers pre-surgery may actually reduce their consumption afterward.
🔹 Mechanisms at Play:

• Gut Rewiring & Alcohol Sensitivity – How changes in gut absorption impact blood alcohol levels.
• Hormonal Influences – The role of GLP-1 and ghrelin in regulating appetite, alcohol consumption, and cravings.
• Dopamine & Reward Pathways – The link between obesity, food reward, and neurochemical changes post-surgery.
  🔹 Rodent Models & Sugar Sensitivity – Research demonstrating that bariatric surgery increases rodents’ sensitivity to both alcohol and sugar, potentially explaining post-surgery changes in cravings.
  🔹 Long-Term Outcomes & Weight Regain – Data suggests that 30–50% of bariatric surgery patients regain weight within five years. What are the implications for food addiction recovery?
  🔹 Pharmacological & Surgical Interventions – Comparisons between bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic and Mounjaro) in regulating appetite and cravings.
  🔹 The Debate on Food Addiction – Where the scientific community stands on whether food addiction should be classified as an addiction akin to substance use disorders.

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Key Takeaways:

✔ Bariatric surgery alters the gut-brain axis, leading to changes in both alcohol and sugar sensitivity.
✔ Some post-surgical patients are at increased risk for developing AUD due to heightened alcohol absorption and reward pathway changes.
✔ Neurobiological and hormonal factors contribute to food cravings and hedonic eating post-surgery.
✔ Obesity is often associated with low dopamine levels, and bariatric surgery may help restore dopamine balance, reducing food cravings.
✔ Long-term post-surgery weight regain is common, raising questions about sustainable solutions for metabolic disorde