What is 'Food Noise' and Why It's Gaining Attention with the Surge in GLP-1 Drugs?

TORONTO — Prior to beginning Ozempic in the spring of 2023, Brenda Rogers was unaware of the extent to which 'food noise' depleted her cognitive reserves.

'You're perpetually ruminating about food—whether it's insufficient, excessive, 'What should I consume? Oh, avoid carbs since they contribute to weight gain, and steer clear of fats as they do the same,' explained the 52-year-old virtual business administrator from Vancouver.

'It's utterly fatiguing to maintain such a mindset.'

The concept of 'food noise' has arisen in tandem with the widespread use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists—commonly referred to as GLP-1 drugs—that manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, scientific lead at Obesity Canada and chief medical officer at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

These drugs encompass Ozempic and Wegovy from Novo Nordisk, along with Mounjaro and Zepbound from Eli Lilly.

'Food noise lacks an official diagnostic label, yet it symbolizes individuals' bond with food, particularly for those dealing with obesity as a persistent illness,' noted Sockalingam, also a psychiatry professor at the University of Toronto.

'It stems directly from the experiences shared by our patients and those under our care.'

Defining Food Noise

Though lacking a precise definition, Sockalingam describes it as a troubling 'insatiable, all-encompassing fixation on food or ruminations about it.'

Russell de Souza, a certified nutritionist and assistant professor at McMaster University's Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research in Hamilton, indicated that these ideas can become so invasive they're 'overpowering' for individuals.

'It becomes challenging for them to concentrate on other essential tasks. They get so engrossed in food that it disrupts their focus,' de Souza remarked.

Sockalingam pointed out that many experience a sense of liberation following intervention, whether via GLP-1 drugs, psychological methods, or a combination.

'(Treatment) frees numerous patients who have battled and felt imprisoned by these persistent food-related thoughts,' he stated.

The Timing of Food Noise's Spotlight

Before GLP-1 drugs became accessible, healthcare professionals lacked potent obesity therapies addressing brain-gut interactions, Sockalingam explained.

With growing familiarity of these medications, discussions on obesity have increased, and stigma has lessened, encouraging more open sharing of personal challenges.

'It's crucial to recognize that weight gain isn't a personal shortcoming—it's a long-term ailment,' de Souza emphasized.

How GLP-1 Drugs Alleviate Food Noise

GLP-1 drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone regulating satiety and hunger, influencing receptors in the brain and digestive system.

The brain's hypothalamus, which oversees hunger and appetite, receives cues on when to halt consumption, de Souza said.

'In certain individuals, that cue might be weaker or briefer,' he added.

These medications target hypothalamic receptors to curb appetite and delay stomach emptying, promoting quicker fullness.

As a result, individuals can shift attention away from food and diminish the noise, Sockalingam observed.

Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs also affect the brain's dopamine-based reward pathways, which may be overly stimulated in some, leading to intense desires.

'When we ingest pleasurable items, dopamine trains us to seek them intensely. Thus, we've observed a reduction in cravings with GLP-1 receptor agonists,' he explained.

Alternatives to Medication for Managing Food Noise

Drugs aren't the sole solution—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers assistance, Sockalingam said.

CBT engages the prefrontal cortex, handling choices, to reshape responses to strong urges and lessen them.

It might involve strategies 'such as diversion techniques, adopting new habits, or reframing thoughts to reduce fixation on food,' he detailed.

De Souza recommended consuming fiber-rich, protein-heavy foods that sustain fullness for longer periods to help silence the noise.

Examples include oat bran, produce, seafood, chickpeas, lentils, and legumes, he mentioned.

However, avoiding excessive restriction of preferred foods is vital, de Souza warned.

'Limiting highly enjoyed items can sometimes result in intensified longing for them,' he cautioned.

'It might amplify food noise rather than diminish it.'

Health tracking apps like Shotlee can assist in monitoring shifts in food thoughts and general wellness during such journeys.