Persistent 'Food Noise' Affects About 1 in 5 Americans

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans say they frequently or always deal with “food noise,” meaning intrusive thoughts about food that can arise even when they are not hungry, according to a recent study published in Obesity Science & Practice.

More than 80% of those surveyed said food noise affects them at least some of the time.

“For years in popular culture, we have been sold the myth that people who carry unwanted body weight lack the willpower to control what they eat,” said lead researcher Daisuke Hayashi, a postdoctoral fellow in nutritional sciences at Penn State.

“When 1 in 5 adults says they think about food most or all the time, whether they are hungry or not, is this really a question of willpower? Or are there other forces affecting people’s mental and emotional experiences with food?” he said in a news release. “The evidence points strongly to the latter.”

Researchers analyzed answers from 1,000 U.S. adults who were asked how often they experience “food noise” on a five-point scale ranging from never to always.

The study found that certain groups were more likely to struggle with it:

• Women were 80% more likely than men to report frequent food noise.

• Younger adults reported higher levels than middle-aged adults or older adults.

• People who said they lose control of their eating were nearly six times as likely to report frequent or constant food noise.

• People who currently use or have used GLP-1 weight-loss drugs were about 50% more likely to report frequent food noise.

The result involving GLP-1 drugs was not expected, but researchers said it may still make sense.

“The term food noise actually emerged from discussions with people who used GLP-1s for weight loss and experienced a sudden reduction in food noise,” senior researcher Travis Masterson, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, said in a news release.

“At first glance, it might seem surprising that GLP-1 users reported more food noise than other people, but this result could arise from an awareness issue,” Masterson said. “If GLP-1s reduce food noise, those who use GLP-1s might be hyperaware of any food noise they do experience and, therefore, more likely to report it.”

Researchers said a clearer understanding of food noise could help doctors and patients in efforts to address excess weight.

“Medical doctors and other clinicians need to know a large proportion of their patients report dealing with this issue,” Masterson said. “Hopefully, this information will inspire people to seek training on how to help their patients address food noise.”

Hayashi added that recognizing the problem is an important first step.

“Understanding food noise is the first step to managing it,” Hayashi said. “If you believe food noise is causing problems in your life, talk to your medical provider about what you can do.”

Sources

• Penn State, news release