Semaglutide Quells "Food Noise," Improves Mental Health Among Adults on Treatment for Obesity and Overweight

Semaglutide prescribed for weight management significantly reduces food noise, unwanted and intrusive thoughts about food, and also improves mental health outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity, according to results from the US-based INFORM survey presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2025, September 15-19, in Vienna, Austria.1

©freshidea/stock.adobe.com

The survey of 550 people taking the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for weight loss found that 46% fewer patients experienced constant thoughts about food throughout the day after starting treatment. Before starting semaglutide treatment, 62% of participants reported constant food-related thoughts, compared with only 16% while taking the injectable incretin mimetic. The negative impact of food noise on daily life also improved, with just 20% of participants reporting disruption while taking semaglutide, compared with 60% who reported the impact before treatment.1

The study used a previously validated 22-question Food Noise Questionnaire to assess the impact of semaglutide on mental well-being and eating habits. The survey population had a mean age of 53 years and the majority (86%) were women. Approximately two-thirds (64%) reported weighing 92 kg (~203 lbs) or more when they began semaglutide treatment.1

People Feel Better Overall

As food noise became less intrusive, survey responses revealed substantial improvements in overall well-being. Approximately 64% of respondents reported improved mental health since starting semaglutide treatment, while 76% developed a "healthier lifestyle" and 80% developed "healthier habits." The majority of study participants (83%) reported high satisfaction with semaglutide treatment.1

"There are so many factors that challenge people with overweight or obesity in their efforts to lose weight, including food noise," Filip Knop, MD PhD, Novo Nordisk senior vice president and incoming chief medical officer, said in a statement. Knop called the new data "encouraging," particularly noting the impact of semaglutide on mental health and lifestyle choices, beyond weight loss.

An Intrusive Stream of Food-Related Thoughts

Recent literature defines food noise as more than simple hunger or occasional food cravings, describing it as constant, obsessive and intrusive stream of food-related thoughts that does not necessarily relate to the body's need for energy and are perceived as dysphoric.2 Survey findings suggest that a majority of people with overweight or obesity report experiencing food noise, with many indicating that it disrupts daily functioning and adherence to healthy behaviors.3 Intrusive food-related thoughts may also intensify negative emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety, which are well documented in individuals with obesity and contribute to impaired mental well-being.4,5

The current findings complement the company's ongoing research into how obesity impacts individuals' daily lives, according to Novo Nordisk. The company presented additional data at EASD examining eating behavior and control of eating with semaglutide from the STEP UP clinical trial, with full results published in Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology on September 14, 2025.

Semaglutide is indicated in the US, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with overweight or obesity and at least one weight-related comorbidity, in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity, and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.

References

1. People taking Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy experienced reduced food noise and boosted mental well-being. News release. Novo Nordisk. September 16, 2025. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html

2. Dhurandhar EJ, Maki KC, Dhurandhar NV, et al. Food noise: definition, measurement, and future research directions. Nutr Diabetes. 2025;15:30.

3. Dietz WH. Understanding food noise. STOP Obesity Alliance. January 31, 2024. Accessed September 17, 2025. https://stop.publichealth.gwu.edu/LFD-jan24

4. Czepczor-Bernat K, Brytek-Matera A, et al. Analysis of blame, guilt, and shame related to body: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients. 2025;17(3):654.

5. Pinaquy S, Chabrol H, Simon C, Louvet JP, Barbe P. Shame, guilt and social anxiety in obesity with binge-eating disorder. Obes Res. 2003;11(2):195-201.