Quieting the food noise in your head
Almost 60% of folks with obesity contend with the relentless chatter of "food noise" that prods them to overeat and compromise their health, according to a Weight Watchers and STOP Obesity Alliance study titled "Beyond Hunger: Understanding Food Noise." Some folks even report that, at times, it's almost impossible to clear their mind and focus on other things -- like work or family.
Researchers aren't sure why this happens but suggest it's caused in part by eating ultra-processed foods that impact the "reward pathway" in the brain and increase the urge for those foods. Medical conditions such as hyperthyroid disease or diabetes can also flip the hunger switch into an always "on" position. And emotional distress can fuel the desire for comfort foods.
Whatever the cause, the wide-spread use of GLP-1 agonists, like semaglutide (brand names Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) as well as tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), has made doctors and the general public aware of how common "food noise" is. That's because many people taking those medications report that their internal food dialogue has quieted down. That may happen because the medications target brain centers that affect appetite, and they may stimulate the hypothalamus, which helps control hunger and fullness.
You can also tamp down food noise in your head by getting 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise daily, managing stress with meditation, doing emotionally rewarding activities with your posse and embracing a purpose, practicing mindful eating, and enjoying coffee and green or fenugreek tea. For support, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2025 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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