Above: Fawn Wolf, M.D., endocrinologist at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
September 2026
Many people describe spending much of the day thinking about food, feeling hungry or planning their next meal. Experts now have a name for that experience: Food noise.
“It's hard to ignore that drive if you're thinking about food and hungry all the time,” says Fawn Wolf, M.D., an endocrinologist at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
As researchers learn more about weight management, they're recognizing that food noise can be a real barrier for some individuals trying to improve their health.
More than willpower
For some, persistent thoughts about food can make it difficult to respond to natural hunger and fullness cues.
Dr. Wolf says some patients who begin GLP-1 medications notice a change in their relationship with food. “[Patients say] I'm realizing I'm spending a bigger portion of my day not thinking about food,” Dr. Wolf says.
As understanding of food noise evolves, clinicians are exploring tools that address the biological factors affecting appetite and eating behaviors.
By recognizing food noise as a legitimate challenge, patients and providers can have more informed, compassionate conversations about personalized approaches to long-term health.
See Dr. Fawn's video on Instagram
