Health · Medical Research · 3 hrs ago
US survey finds food noise in up to 9.5% of adults not using GLP-1 drugs
A US survey estimated food noise affected 4% to 9.5% of adults who were not taking GLP-1 medicines.
Food noise means persistent, unwanted thoughts about food that can interfere with daily life or cause distress.
Researchers from Drexel University and the University of California, Irvine, studied 3,646 adults in a nationally representative survey conducted in 2025.
They used a five-question measure about food thoughts over the previous two weeks, and the estimated share meeting the criteria varied depending on how food noise was defined.
Most participants with obesity did not meet the study's criteria, despite obesity affecting about 40% of US adults.
The topic has drawn attention as some people taking GLP-1 medicines, which can reduce appetite and food intake, have reported fewer food-related thoughts.
The findings are preliminary: the study is a preprint under review, so they should not be treated as conclusive or used to guide health decisions.
A US survey estimated that 4% to 9.5% of adults not taking GLP-1 medications met questionnaire-based criteria for food noise.
The study used responses from 3,646 participants in a nationally representative survey.
Food noise was assessed using a five-item questionnaire about persistent food-related thoughts and their effects.
About 40.8% of participants were classified as having obesity.
The findings come from a preprint that has not been peer-reviewed.
- Who
- Researchers at Drexel University and the University of California, Irvine, studied US adults.
- What
- The study estimated the prevalence of food noise among adults not currently taking GLP-1 medications.
- When
- The survey data came from the August–October 2025 wave. The article was published on October 27, 2026.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- The researchers assessed food noise, a recently defined experience of persistent food-related thoughts perceived as unwanted or harmful.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Participants completed the survey wave used to assess food noise and related variables.
News-Medical reported the study’s prevalence estimates.
- Prevalence estimate
- 4% to 9.5% of US adults not currently taking GLP-1 medications
- Study participants
- 3,646
- Survey wave
- August–October 2025
- Obesity classification
- 40.8% of the weighted sample
- Questionnaire
- Five items assessing food-related thoughts over the preceding two weeks
- Publication status
- Preprint posted on Research Square and under review at the International Journal of Obesity