WeightWatchers flags “food noise” as roadblock to healthy weight

19 Jan 2024 --- Food noise impacts over half of individuals living with overweight or obesity, according to a new report by weight loss program WeightWatchers. Defined as “constant, intrusive thoughts about food that are disruptive to daily life and make healthful behaviors extremely difficult,” the organization highlights that food noise may reflect a biological contribution to obesity and calls to end stigmas on weight and weight loss medications.

Food noise is not well-known, as only 12% of people surveyed by the company were familiar with the term, although 57% say they had felt the sensation. The intensity of food noise — which can be experienced by anyone — varies from person to person. 

“The difference between food noise being problematic or not comes down to how often and how intensely it’s occurring. Food noise that occurs daily can be so intense and intrusive that it negatively impacts food choices and quality of life,” says Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, obesity and lipid specialist physician and medical director at WeightWatchers, US. 

“With constant, intrusive thoughts about food, it’s difficult to navigate behavioral change without clinical help. The first step toward relief and greater empathy for those living with obesity is acknowledging that food noise is a real biological issue that many are facing.”

Weight stigma  
The report was developed for WeightWatchers and the STOP Obesity Alliance at George Washington University, US. The researchers conducted an online survey among 1,174 US citizens, of which 284 were living with overweight and 454 with obesity. Of those surveyed, 295 used GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist medications. 

WeightWatchers emphasizes that obesity is a chronic condition, not a reflection of willpower, even though this perception is common. People not living with obesity or overweight believe that those living with obesity are not taking care of themselves. At the same time, over 80% of people who are overweight or obese judge themselves and are trying to lose weight. 

Due to this weight-related stigma, the report notes that food noise is commonly ignored as a contributing factor to obesity. However, almost two-thirds of people living with overweight or obesity say that food noise makes it difficult to stick to a nutrition or exercise plan. 

“As our understanding of the challenge of living with obesity continues to grow, the recognition of food noise provides a new insight into why a preoccupation with food may be hard-wired and is not simply caused by a lack of willpower,” comments William Dietz, MD, Ph.D., Director, STOP Obesity Alliance. 

“This first-of-its-kind consumer research truly helps define this concept, allowing us to educate better people living with obesity and others in a way that drives greater understanding and compassion and ultimately reduces stigma.”

Almost two-thirds of people living with overweight or obesity say that food noise makes it difficult to stick to a nutrition or exercise plan.Anti-obesity drugs 
The stigma about weight extends to the use of anti-obesity drugs, such as GLP-1 weight management medications. According to the report, a quarter of people living with overweight or obesity avoid talking to their friends, family or medical staff about weight loss medication. 

Around half of the people surveyed believe that people using such weight loss drugs prioritize appearance over their health or are taking “the easy way out.” A large share also claims they have more respect for people who lose weight without drugs. 

However, WeightWatchers underscores that these medications help reduce food noise and decrease appetite, making losing weight easier. 

Dr. Rebecca Puhl, deputy director for the US Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, comments: “There has been a lack of recognition of the ways in which our biology and pathophysiology make sustainable weight loss very difficult to achieve.” 

“Personal lifestyle behaviors are only one piece of the puzzle — but that’s the only piece our society focuses on. Ignoring the other pieces that reflect our environment, genetics, biology and more means the puzzle will never be complete. Obesity is complex, but the narrative in the mass media continues to be over-simplified and inaccurate.”

Weight management tool 
The WeightWatchers report indicates that after understanding the concept of food noise, more people believed that GLP-1 drugs are a tool to manage a chronic condition. 

After taking these medications, people find it easier to make healthy food choices, stick to nutrition or exercise plans, focus and plan their day. 

In addition, a large-scale international clinical trial indicates that semaglutide — a GLP-1 medication — benefits heart health by reducing cardiovascular events by 20% in overweight or obese adults who don’t have diabetes. 

At the same time, researchers question the long-term availability of these drugs, as a study revealed that two-thirds of patients using obesity medication GLP-1a stop taking it within a year due to high associated costs. 

Meanwhile, a recent study revealed that 60% of US citizens believe bariatric surgery is a shortcut to losing weight, while 79% of people surveyed believed it should only be pursued as a last resort. A large share of respondents said that exercise and diet should be enough. 

By Jolanda van Hal