What Is Food Noise? A Conceptual Model of Food Cue Reactivity

Abstract

As GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, emerge as effective treatments for weight management, anecdotal reports from patients and clinicians alike point to a reduction in what has been colloquially termed “food noise”, as patients report experiencing less rumination and obsessive preoccupation about food. In this narrative review, we discuss concepts used in studies to investigate human eating behavior that can help elucidate and define food noise, particularly food cue reactivity. We propose a conceptual model that summarizes the main factors that have been shown to determine the magnitude of the reactivity elicited by external and internal food cues and how these factors can affect short- and long-term behavioral and clinical outcomes. By integrating key research conducted in this field, the Cue–Influencer–Reactivity–Outcome (CIRO) model of food cue reactivity provides a framework that can be used in future research to design studies and interpret findings related to food noise and food cue reactivity.

Exploring the Potential Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Substance Use, Compulsive Behavior, and Libido: Insights from Social Media Using a Mixed-Methods Approach

“…Finally, consistent with previous findings [21,97], GLP-1 RAs probably helped to cut the "food noise" (e.g., food-related brain ruminations) being experienced by subjects. Interestingly, treatment with semaglutide is also related to reductions in substance use or compulsive behaviors other than eating [97].…”

“…Finally, consistent with previous findings [21,97], GLP-1 RAs probably helped to cut the "food noise" (e.g., food-related brain ruminations) being experienced by subjects. Interestingly, treatment with semaglutide is also related to reductions in substance use or compulsive behaviors other than eating [97]. Alterations in dopaminergic pathways in the preclinical model and in human brains both contribute to substance misuse and play a role in compulsive behaviors [98,99], leading to the hypothesis that GLP-1 RAs can act on several factors influencing different maladaptive behaviors, manifesting cross-cutting effects on behavioral and non-behavioral addictions [59].…”

Hedonic hunger, eating behavior, and food reward and preferences 1 year after initial weight loss by diet or bariatric surgery

“…More importantly, the impaired signals were not restored after a 12‐week successful dietary WL intervention [41], which, in part, may explain the high rates of WL recidivism. Additionally, “food noise,” a recently proposed construct defined by “heightened and/or persistent manifestations of food cue reactivity, often leading to food‐related intrusive thoughts and maladaptive eating behaviors” [42], is likely to contribute to weight regain following diet‐induced WL. In contrast, bariatric surgery seems to induce adaptations within mesolimbic circuits that, in turn, may affect appetite and body weight regulation [43].…”

“…Additionally, the hedonic and homeostatic appetite control systems are highly integrated. Intravenous infusion of peptide YY (PYY) has been shown to modulate responses to visual food cue stimuli [45], and the use of GLP‐1 receptor agonists are associated with decreased activation of key brain regions involved in hedonic control of appetite in response to palatable food cues [42]. Thus, the favorable changes in hedonic appetite and eating behavior post bariatric surgery are likely to be driven, at least in part, by increased postprandial secretion of PYY and GLP‐1 [22].…”

Supplemental Material for Exploring adolescent vulnerability to influencer product endorsement on snack intake within a live streaming context.

“…Reactivity to food cues has previously been associated with greater responsiveness to food marketing (Masterson, Gilbert-Diamond, et al, 2019;Pollack et al, 2022). Additionally, the cue-influencer-reactivity-outcome model theorizes more broadly the effects of eating behavior characteristics and environmental factors that impact responsiveness to food cues within an environment (Hayashi et al, 2023). Emotional regulation and state act as both constant and transient influencers of food cue reactivity.…”