Food noise: definition, measurement, and future research directions

Abstract

The term food noise has been recently popularized by individuals managing their weight or adhering to specific diets for health reasons. Anecdotal evidence from patients and clinical observations suggests that food noise involves constant preoccupation with food-related decisions-such as which foods to eat, caloric intake, macronutrient balance, and meal timing-which can become intrusive and unpleasant. Food noise also appears to affect cognitive burden and quality of life, and is being cited as one reason weight-loss attempts fail. The increase in public discourse about food noise has highlighted its potential significance, yet a formal clinical definition and method of measurement of food noise are lacking. Herein, we define food noise through clinical and patient anecdotes, describe initial research validating a food noise questionnaire, and outline future research directions. The formal definition of food noise is 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. Food noise is distinguished from routine food-related thoughts by its intensity and intrusiveness, resembling rumination. We describe our initial research developing the Ro Allison Indiana Dhurandhar- Food Noise Inventory (RAID-FN Inventory) to measure food noise. We also outline future areas of research, including exploring the prevalence and physiological underpinnings of food noise and the role of cultural and sociodemographic factors. The effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists on food noise, the potential role of food noise in weight management and metabolic health, understanding food noise's impact on health outcomes and quality of life, the stigma associated with food noise, and the potential influence of food noise on public health policies are discussed. Future research should aim to refine definitions, improve measurement tools, and evaluate therapeutic strategies for managing food noise.