Persistent, intrusive thoughts about food — known in the scientific literature as "food noise" — are far more widespread than commonly assumed, with about half of American adults experiencing them regularly. That is the conclusion of researchers who analyzed data from a survey by the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) involving 1,000 U.S. adults, according to infohub.kz.
The findings were published in the journal "Obesity Science & Practice." About 18% of respondents said they experience "food noise" often or constantly, while more than 50% encounter it from time to time.
Women reported regular intrusive thoughts about food more often than men — 22.7% versus 12.7%. The rate was also higher among young people under 29 (26.5%) compared with respondents over 60 (13.5%).
The leading factor increasing the likelihood of "food noise" nearly sixfold was loss of control over eating. Among other key factors, the researchers identified current use of GLP-1 medications (a 60% higher likelihood), attempts to lose weight, high income, and Asian ancestry.
The analysis showed that frequent "food noise" is associated with a lower self-rated quality of diet and worse mental health. The authors emphasize that the term still lacks a strict scientific definition and may overlap with already established concepts such as food addiction or compulsive overeating.