What is Food Noise? Meaning, Causes & How to Stop it

Have you ever finished lunch and immediately started thinking about what’s for dinner? Or maybe you find yourself standing in front of the fridge absentmindedly more than you would care to admit. If you have, you could be experiencing what’s now known as ‘food noise’.

The phrase went viral in the news and on social media, often from people describing how those thoughts went quiet after starting weight loss medication.

Until recently there was no scientific definition. In 2025, a group of nutrition and obesity researchers published a paper in Nutrition & Diabetes that set out to change that [1]. In this article, we discuss what food noise means, what could be causing it and how to reduce food noise in everyday life.

What is food noise?

Food noise is the term for constant, unwelcome and uncontrollable thoughts about food. The researchers behind the 2025 paper proposed this definition [1]:

“Persistent thoughts about food that are perceived by the individual as being unwanted and/or dysphoric and may cause harm to the individual, including social, mental, or physical problems.”

Therefore, food noise is not simply thinking about food. It is thinking about food so often, and in such an unwelcome way, that it gets in the way of daily life.

The definition came from an expert panel meeting held at the American Society for Nutrition in June 2024. The team also built a 29-statement questionnaire, called the RAID-FN Inventory, which is now being tested with a larger group of people [1]. This was not a clinical trial, so it describes food noise rather than proving what causes or cures it.

The researchers identified four features that set food noise apart from everyday food thoughts [1]:

How common is food noise?

In a US survey of 1,000 adults published in 2026, around half (51%) said they experienced food noise at least sometimes and 18% said they had often experienced it or always did. Only 17% said they had never experienced it before [2].

Some groups reported food noise more often than others. In the same survey, frequent food noise was more common in women (about 23%) than men (about 13%), and in adults aged up to 29 (about 27%) than in those aged 60 and over (about 14%) [2].

Food noise is likely to be common in people living with overweight or obesity. A 2024 report by WeightWatchers and the STOP Obesity Alliance at George Washington University found that 57% of people living with overweight or obesity experienced “continuous and disruptive thoughts about food” [3]. This appears to be the source of the 57% figure quoted in the 2025 research paper [1]. The report did not publish its sample size, and WeightWatchers sells weight loss programmes, so treat this figure with some caution.

Examples of food noise

Like with most things, food noise looks different for everyone and those who experience it report experiencing it in different ways. Common examples of food noise can include:

• Thinking about your next meal or snack while you are still eating
• Struggling to focus at work because you keep thinking about food in the cupboard
• Constantly weighing up what, when and how much you “should” eat
• Feeling guilty or frustrated with yourself for thinking about food so much
• Thoughts about food that keep coming back even when you are full

Food noise vs hunger

Hunger is your body asking for fuel, and it eases once you have eaten. Food noise can carry on when you are full, and it is not only about craving a particular food. It can also be constant worry about eating “the right way at the right time in the right amounts” [1]. The researchers compare it to rumination, where the same thoughts go round and round.

What causes food noise?

There have been no formal clinical trials conducted yet, so no one can say for certain what causes it. The researchers list its causes, including the role of the brain and body, as a key question for future studies, also noting it seems to affect people who are managing their weight or following strict diets [1].

A few factors are known to make food thoughts and hunger harder to ignore:

• Poor sleep. In a small study of 12 healthy young men, two nights of only 4 hours’ sleep raised the hunger hormone ghrelin by 28%, lowered the fullness hormone leptin by 18% and increased hunger by 24% [4]. Participants also craved more sweet, salty and starchy foods.
• ADHD. A review of 75 studies found a consistent link between ADHD and problematic eating. In 20 of 27 studies looking at binge eating, there was a positive association with ADHD [5]. This research did not look at food noise directly, so more studies are necessary to confirm a link between food noise and ADHD specifically.

Food noise and weight loss medication

Much of the interest in food noise comes from people taking GLP-1 medicines, a type of prescription-only weight loss treatment. Many describe their food noise going quiet. One patient quoted in the paper said: “All of a sudden it was like some part of my brain that was always there just went quiet” [1].

Trial evidence shows these medicines reduce appetite and cravings. In one 20-week study of 72 people, those taking the medicine ate 35% fewer calories than those on a placebo and reported less hunger [1]. The researchers think the medicines may act on appetite centres in the brain, but this has not yet been tested for food noise specifically [1].

This type of medication is not the right choice for everyone. On the NHS, eligibility depends on your BMI and any weight-related health conditions, and these medicines are prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular physical activity [8]. A prescriber will assess whether a treatment is suitable for you.

How to stop food noise naturally

There is no proven way to stop food noise yet. The paper does not test any treatments, and the researchers list how to manage food noise as an open question [1]. Even so, balanced eating habits backed by NHS advice may help you quiet food noise and feel more in control around food:

• Eat regular meals. Aim for balanced meals rather than skipping them, which can make it harder to manage your weight over time [6].
• Build a balanced plate. Fill half with vegetables, salad or fruit, a quarter with lean protein and a quarter with starchy carbohydrates [6]. High-fibre vegetables can help you feel fuller for longer [7].
• Eat without distractions. Put the phone away and eat slowly so your brain has time to register that you are full [6].
• Notice “head hunger”. Before snacking, check whether you are physically hungry or eating out of boredom or emotion [6].
• Keep snacks out of sight and put them in a bowl rather than eating from the packet [6][7].
• Prioritise sleep. Not getting enough sleep can raise hunger hormones and cravings, so prioritising sleep may make food thoughts easier to manage [4].
• Stay hydrated. Aim for 6 to 8 glasses (1.5-2 litres) of water a day [7].

Remember that food noise is not a lack of willpower. If these steps are not enough, one of our GPhC-registered pharmacists or your GP can talk through other options with you.

When to speak to a pharmacist or GP

Talk to a pharmacist or your GP if food noise is affecting your mood, work, relationships or sleep, or if you would like support with your weight. They can talk through your options and whether any treatment may be suitable.

The researchers note that food noise may overlap with eating disorders in ways that are not yet understood [1]. See your GP if you are worried about how you are eating, for example eating a lot of food very fast, hiding how much you eat, or making yourself sick after meals [9]. The eating disorder charity Beat also offers confidential support on 0808 801 0677.

References

1. Dhurandhar EJ, Maki KC, Dhurandhar NV, Kyle TK, Yurkow S, Hawkins MAW, et al. Food noise: definition, measurement, and future research directions. Nutr Diabetes. 2025;15:30. doi:10.1038/s41387-025-00382-x. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12238327/
2. Hayashi D, Masterson TD. Prevalence and correlates of perceived food noise among U.S. adults in a nationally representative sample. Obes Sci Pract. 2026. doi:10.1002/osp4.70201. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.70201
3. STOP Obesity Alliance, George Washington University. Beyond hunger: understanding food noise. 2024. Available from: https://stop.publichealth.gwu.edu/LFD-jan24
4. Spiegel K, Tasali E, Penev P, Van Cauter E. Brief communication: sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(11):846-50. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008. Summary available from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/news/2004/december/sleep-loss-boosts-appetite-may-encourage-weight-gain
5. Kaisari P, Dourish CT, Higgs S. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disordered eating behaviour: a systematic review and a framework for future research. Clin Psychol Rev. 2017;53:109-21. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.03.002. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027273581630232X
6. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Lifestyle advice for people taking weight loss medicines: healthy eating habits. Available from: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/lifestyle-advice-people-taking-weight-loss-medicines/healthy-eating-habits
7. NHS Better Health. Healthy eating when trying to lose weight. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/healthy-eating-when-trying-to-lose-weight/
8. NHS. Overweight and obesity in adults: treatment. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment/
9. NHS. Eating disorders: overview. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/eating-disorders/overview/
10. Golen T. Can berberine help me lose weight? Harvard Health Publishing. 2024 May 1. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-berberine-help-me-lose-weight
11. NHS. Semaglutide. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/semaglutide/
12. Arnaut T, Hahn-Pedersen JH, et al. Impact of food noise after initiating semaglutide treatment: results from a US survey (INFORM). Presented at: 61st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes; 2025 Sep 15-19; Vienna, Austria. Available from: https://sciencehub.novonordisk.com/content/dam/sciencehub/global/en/congresses-and-scientific-publications/congresses/easd2025/kvist/documents/KvistEtAl_FoodNoise_EASD25_Oral_final_15Sep25_forOH_Copy.pdf