What Is Food Noise? How GLP-1 Medications Helped One Dietitian Find Relief
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
GLP-1 medications are taking the world by storm right now, but the conversations surrounding them can lack nuance. That’s why I’m doing this 3-part podcast series with three different dietitians all about these drugs.
Together, these episodes explore how GLP-1 medications work, who they’re designed for, their potential benefits and risks, what we’re seeing both in practice and in the broader population, what the science says, and what active people need to know.
This topic is complex and controversial, but I’m excited for you to listen (and feedback or questions are always welcome).
Be sure to tune into the first episode in this series, GLP-1 Medications: What Active People Need to Know.
GLP-1s and Food Noise with RD Summer Kessel
Part 2 of this series continues in episode 138 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast with Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM. Summer is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management, and GLP-1 nutrition expert. She also has personal experience taking GLP-1 medications herself, which brings a unique perspective to this conversation.
Summer and I discuss:
What food noise is, and how it goes far beyond hunger or cravings
Her personal experience with obesity, weight loss, and taking GLP-1s
Overlap between food noise, chronic dieting, and disordered eating patterns
Who should (and shouldn't) be on these drugs
Risks and benefits of GLP-1 use in different populations
The importance of ongoing professional support while using GLP-1 meds
Why inappropriate GLP-1 use cases shouldn’t overshadow people genuinely benefiting from these medications
How weight stigma and judgment can make conversations around GLP-1 use even more difficult
Why compassion, individualized care, and ongoing professional support matter
I hope this episode helps you better understand GLP-1 medications and the experiences of those who use them.
What Is Food Noise?
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation centered around the concept of food noise, a term that has become increasingly common as GLP-1 medications have gained popularity. Summer describes food noise as the constant mental preoccupation with food that can consume an enormous amount of emotional and mental energy throughout the day.
A lot of times, people mistakenly use the terms “cravings” and “food noise” interchangeably, when in reality, they’re much different.
As Summer shared:
“If you can eat some of it, enjoy it, appreciate it, and then move on… and that satisfied your craving, then that was a craving. Food noise is relentless, where even after eating the thing that you think you want, it moves on to something else and something else… It's always there.”
She also points out that conversations around food noise often become complicated because there’s significant overlap between food noise and disordered eating patterns.
“Even though people struggling with obesity are actively gaining weight, we do still see a lot of disordered eating because managing your weight and trying to reach a healthy body weight is so difficult, even with traditional methods… So we resort to these not so healthy behaviors in an effort to manage our weight.”
One thing I really appreciated throughout this conversation is that Summer consistently brought nuance into a topic that is often so oversimplified online. GLP-1 medications don’t simply “make people stop eating.” For some individuals, they can quiet a level of mental noise around food that others may never fully understand. And that can be life-changing.
At the same time, this conversation is not meant to suggest that GLP-1 medications are appropriate or necessary for everyone. Summer repeatedly emphasizes that these medications exist within a much bigger picture that includes medical history, lived experience, mental health, access to care, and individual goals.
Why We Need to Change the Way We Talk About GLP-1 Medications
After talking with Summer, it really solidified the fact that we need to approach the topic of GLP-1s and obesity with more nuance and less judgement in our society.
Does inappropriate use of GLP-1s exist, especially in certain online wellness spaces? Absolutely!
But that should not downplay the very real experiences of people who have struggled with obesity and related health conditions for decades.
I love how Summer ended our conversation by saying:
“Don't conflate inappropriate GLP-1 use (like what you might see online or in the horror stories) to all GLP-1 use (like the people who have lived with obesity for 30 years and are sharing their lived experience), because these medications are truly life-saving and life-changing blockbuster drugs in terms of medicine, health, and the future of health management for a wide variety of conditions.”
It’s so easy for conversations around GLP-1 medications to become emotionally charged, especially on social media. Real people with real struggles exist behind these conversations, and healthcare decisions are rarely as simple as the internet makes them seem.
So whether or not you personally agree with or relate to GLP-1 medication use, approaching these conversations with curiosity and empathy matters.
Understanding GLP-1s and Food Noise
This conversation with Summer challenged me to think more deeply about obesity, food noise, weight stigma, and the role GLP-1 medications may play in healthcare moving forward. I really appreciated her honesty and willingness to share both her professional expertise and personal experience.
If you’ve been curious about GLP-1 medications, struggling to find information you can trust, or wanting to better understand the concept of food noise, I think you’ll find this episode incredibly helpful.
The next episode in this series will dive more into GLP-1 use in endurance athletes specifically, and will present a very different angle on this topic.
Note: Please always seek guidance from your physician and registered dietitian before beginning a GLP-1 agonist so that you can determine if it's appropriate, and to help you make the most informed decision for your health, lifestyle, and training goals.
Looking for Personalized Nutrition Support?
If conversations around weight, food noise, chronic dieting, or nutrition feel overwhelming, you don’t have to sort through all the conflicting information on your own.
As a sports dietitian, I help active people navigate complicated nutrition topics with evidence-based guidance, practical strategies, and most importantly… compassion.
Here’s what one client had to say about working with me:
"Working with Claire has been a total game changer for me. I'd always struggled to figure out what healthy eating looks like - and swung from being overly restrictive to overly indulgent in the process. I worked with several other dietitians in the past, but Claire was the only one who helped me achieve flexibility and balance in my diet. Her down-to-earth and practical approach has helped me make sustainable changes. I would have never imagined that making such simple shifts could lead to such a dramatic improvement in the way I feel!" - Lisa Z.
Here are a few ways to get nutrition support:
Join my Fuel for Life Crew membership for just $39/month, (cancel anytime)
Browse my nutrition masterclasses (all are also included in the membership)
Grab my Eat for Endurance Mini Guide Bundle (a collection of 6 mini guides, worksheets, and a bonus supplement resource)
Download my free fueling resources
Fill out a new client inquiry form for comprehensive 1:1 coaching (limited spots available)
Meet My Podcast Sponsors
A big thank you to Tailwind Nutrition and Good Ranchers for sponsoring this episode!
Use code EATFORENDURANCE20 for 20% off your first purchase at Tailwind Nutrition. I love all of their sports nutrition products, and have been using them during my training sessions since 2019! Endurance Fuel (naked flavor) is my favorite, but there are so many fun flavors to try.
Use code IRON for $40 off a one-time box or $100 off your first 3 boxes at Good Ranchers, plus free protein with your subscription. I've been enjoying their high quality animal proteins delivered straight to my door, and can't wait to get my second box (with extra chicken nuggets, this time!). Make sure you share "The Eat for Endurance Podcast" in your post-purchase survey, so Good Ranchers knows you're supporting the show!
Other Easy (And Free) Ways to Support the Podcast
If you enjoy The Eat for Endurance Podcast, here are a few easy ways to support it:
Leave a 5-star rating and write a review wherever you get your shows
Subscribe/Follow The Eat for Endurance Podcast so you don't miss an episode
Shop my merch and affiliate codes for Skratch, Momentous and more
Join my Patreon community
Grab the Ultimate Fueling Sticker Pack to fuel in style
Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations.
Comments