We've all heard that our food choices play a big part in our weight gain, but is there something deeper to why we continue to choose foods we know aren't good for us anyway?

5 Things Sunday host James Brown addressed this a few months ago with guest Karen Weintraub in an episode called Like most Americans, I'm fat and trying not to be. You can listen to it by clicking on the story.

Brown sat down with USA TODAY food reporter, Morgan Hines to talk more about about the connection between our brain and what Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford calls "ancient urges," and how it spills into our lives in other areas like spending over saving money.

She said, "It's conditioning from our upbringing that contributes to how we associate food and when we want it. So it might not be the food or the flavor even, as much as it is the association we pair with the food."

And breaking that association takes being mindful.

For more on this topic read:

Why do we eat foods that we know we shouldn't?

Rethinking obesity: Americans don't choose to be fat. Many live within a 'system they don't control.'

Inside America's obesity epidemic: How America's weight (and weight loss) aren't so simple.

Follow James Brown, Morgan Hines and Karen Weintraub on Twitter.

If you have a comment about the show or a question or topic you'd like us to discuss, send James Brown an email at jabrown@usatoday.com or podcasts@usatoday.com. You can also leave him a voicemail at 585-484-0339. We might have you on the show.

Episode Transcript available here

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