to think “food noise” is becoming one of those phrases people hide behind rather than actually dealing with their eating habits?

[foodywoody]

I keep hearing people say they have “food noise” and that’s why they’re constantly thinking about food or snacking, but isn’t that just hunger, boredom, habit, or emotional eating dressed up in a nicer label? I’m not saying it’s not real for some people, especially where there are medical issues involved, but the way it’s thrown around now makes it sound like no one has any control over it at all.

It just feels like another way to remove any personal responsibility. Not everything needs a label. Sometimes it’s just about eating properly and getting enough protein and actually addressing emotional eating.

It won't remove it forever but it's not the only reason for using them so it's still a valid option. Some people will be on them on for life and if they accept that, then that's fine. For me, I've reduced some genetic risks exacerbated by obesity. I'm now in a position to reasonably actually try to sustain a calorie deficit and exercise programme that I just wasn't four stone ago.

Maybe others are saying this upthread, but I think "food noise" is a new phrase to describe something that has been around as long as dieting. I think anyone who has ever been on a diet can relate to the experience of constantly thinking about food (and not just because you're hungry - even if you're full, you're still thinking about it!). As soon as I stopped caring about my weight (last year, mid 40s) it disappeared. For context, I'm a size 12, up from a size 10 before I had kids, and I've never tried WLIs.

But so what? I'm bemused by you making my comment about you when you've literally said it doesn't apply to you.

Are you familiar with how forums work?

I hate this. Would you say to an alcoholic oh stop with this craving nonsense. Food noise is a thing trust me you are lucky you don’t know what it is.

OP's got all the answers. But sadly has buggered off. How unbelievably tedious.

add in things like (none of this makes much sense but trying to explain it):

• will there be enough food - anywhere I go - will there be enough food. There is ALWAYS enough food so this isn't based on anything rational;
• If I have one M&S salad pot/sandwich/normal portion of lunch I will starve. It is not enough. It will never be enough food;
• Wake up - what will I have for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack? what time, how much will there be? do I need to shop? what else can I buy?
• these thoughts are constant - think hamster in a wheel, and LOUD - very loud, they fill the mind up. If you do manage to think of somethign else it wont be for long;
• Creates low grade anxiety as minimum bar;
• after you've eaten - I ate too much, I am uncomfortable, I am greedy/useless/fat/weak,no wonder I am overweight, next time I will eat XYZ, XYZ is delicious, I should only eat XYZ. It I eat XYZ I will be fine, everything will be fine if I just eat XYZ. repeat until you end up back at "is there enough food"
• Thoughts like these run on a constant multi-voice loop for DECADES. No wonder my brain is so tired.

WIthout food noise - I am hungry, its lunchtime. Go to fridge - decide today I will eat a salad and some chicken for lunch - that looks nice. I prepare & eat salad and chicken. It is nice. There are biscuits my daughter made - chocolate chip - I think "they look yummy but I dont want to eat processed carbs and I am not hungry anyway." I dont eat a biscuit today, or tomorrow. I have chosen not to eat this food as its not good in supporting my goal so I don't eat the cookie or think about it again. That's it.

However, I don't think that weight loss injections or weight loss surgery are the right mechanisms to deal with food noise or head hunger because they won't remove it forever, and you'll be right back at square one.

No reason to expect WLIs won't remove it forever if you keep taking them. The data on longer term use doesn't show the effect stopping.

yes dieting/trying to lose weight (traditionally for want of a better word) makes it much much worse.

But it doesn't stop if you decide to stop dieting or caring about losing weight anymore.

I don’t know some people want to complain about every attempt that is made to explain some people’s experience, rather than just insulting them and making them feel bad. Same with neurodivergence- some people can’t bare that they’re no longer allowed to dismiss and insult a whole section of society.

And if people can’t name what is going on, how are they suppose to “take responsibility” and tackle it?

surely most people get hungry, aka food noise. You can’t just eat everytime you are hungry.

I think you are being very unreasonable op given that all reasonably intelligent people understand that being overweight, in the majority of cases, has very little to do with food, or food noise for that matter. It’s all about mind set and having a calm space in which you can focus on your diet and health.

Hunger is not the same as food noise.

Do I need to be glued to mumsnet all the time? Now that would be tedious.

What’s the difference then?

I am not sure why some people are being so aggressive in their replies. Good to see that some have been deleted.

Thank you to those who explained.

46% are in agreement with my OP and there are a lot of reactions in support too which is interesting.

It’s a craving for food that is not always related to actual hunger. On the jabs you just don’t think about food in the same way. It removes that craving.

LMAO. Classic AIBU reaction ignoring the majority opinion.

@foodywoody can I ask why you feel a lack of personal responsibility is one of the main causes of obesity or significant overweight? Can you explain a bit more about what obese people are doing wrong that people like you get right? Thanks.

Until you've dealt with and experienced it you can't possibly understand.

Because ‘food noise’ turns it into something outside of yourself that you ‘have’ - as if it’s not your fault, you are afflicted with some sort of illness.

Which it’s not.

It is a pattern of thinking that you’ve allowed and now is difficult - but not impossible - to get out of.

Emotional eating is far more accurate, but that involves people taking responsibility.

People are saying they have food noise so I have to believe their experience.
But can anyone explain where it’s come from? I was a young women in the 80’s and very few people were overweight compared to today; so where has this compulsion to eat come from?
Is it additives or environmental factors?

Why is it interesting? Is the 54% vote against you not interesting?

clearly you don't experience 'food noise'. I would have said it didn't exist until the mounjaro turned it off. I was a size 32. Now I'm a 22 and reducing week on week. I have very little desire to eat, even when I am experiencing hunger. No noise. Nothing at all.

Kind of. For me it is the knowledge that there is a chocolate bar in the fridge and it is calling to me all the time I am awake until I eat it, and then I need to go and restock with more chocolate bars.

i am another one who has been told I’m just greedy and weak, but WLIs flicked a switch from day 1. I walked into the supermarket and there was a delicious smell of fresh baking and I went to the cake counter. That looks lovely I thought and then “which one shall I get”. And then I thought - actually I’m not bothered about actually eating one. I can meet friends for a coffee and skip the pastries without effort. I went out for a meal at a favourite restaurant and actually uttered the words “I fancy a nice chicken salad”.

i assume that this is how naturally slim people (i.e. those without food noise) navigate food.