TLDR: Two perspectives on Food Noise

From diet culture/medical model:

Definition: A symptom of a "broken" metabolism.
Goal: To silence, suppress, and eliminate
Tool: GLP-1s, restriction, "willpower”
Outcome: [Temporary] thinness and disconnection

From Body Trust / Neuro-Inclusive Model:

Definition: A communication from a dopamine-seeking or hungry brain
Goal: To listen, understand, and provide
Tool: Intuitive eating, ADHD support, adequate fueling, therapy
Outcome: Long-term body autonomy; nervous system regulation

If you’ve spent any time on social media or in a doctor’s office lately, you’ve likely heard the term “food noise.” As a counselor specializing in the intersection of ADHD and eating disorders, I see this term popping up everywhere. It’s being used to describe the persistent, intrusive thoughts about food: what to eat, when to eat, and how much you’ve already eaten.

But while the buzzword is new, the experience isn't. However, the way it's being "packaged" by diet culture and the pharmaceutical industry is deeply concerning. Today, we’re going to look at food noise through the lens of Body Trust, and why "silencing" it isn't the victory we’re being told it is.

What is "Food Noise," Really?

In clinical terms, food noise is often a form of hyperfocus or obsessive cognition. For my clients with ADHD, the brain is constantly seeking dopamine. Food is a reliable, fast-acting dopamine source. When the brain feels under-stimulated or stressed, it "shouts" for food because it's trying to regulate your nervous system.

From an eating disorder perspective, food noise is often the natural result of restriction. When the body is starved (physically or emotionally), the brain initiates a survival mechanism to ensure you find energy. This might look like non-stop thoughts about food, planning what you are going to eat next, feeling ashamed of what you already ate.

Why Diet Culture is "Going to War"

Diet culture has hijacked the concept of food noise to pathologize the body’s communication. By labeling these thoughts as a "glitch" or a "symptom" to be suppressed, it justifies a new kind of war against fat bodies.

The GLP-1 Narrative: Medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are being marketed as the "cure" for food noise. The narrative is: “Your body is broken because it thinks about food; this shot will fix your brokenness.” These companies are banking on our insecurities, which they often helped create, to sell a product for a natural body response when we experience famine or voluntary restriction. Bear in mind that our bodies dont know the difference between famine and voluntary restriction. In both cases, they will trigger a survival response and a basic one at that: “GET ME FOOD NOW!”.
The Erasure of Autonomy: When we use medication or restrictive diets to "silence" the noise, we aren't healing the relationship with the body: we are severing it. We are teaching the brain that its needs are "noise" rather than "information." The body is seen as a problem to be fixed, a project when it is actually the only home you will ever have.
How We Reclaim the Quiet: A Multi-Modal Approach to Healing
If you are tired of the "noise" and weary of a medical system that tells you your body is a problem to be solved, I want you to know there is a different path. In my practice here in Kirkland, WA, we don’t aim to "mute" you; we aim to understand you. I believe in your body agency and will support you in your path whether it involves GLP-1 medications or not. What I wish for you is to understand what you are being sold, understand that changing your appearance won't heal deep wounds, challenge what society is telling you (even what I’m telling you!).
By integrating specialized therapeutic modalities with a Body Trust framework, we move away from "going to war" and toward a compassionate alliance with your nervous system. Health is a behavior not a number. When we use GLP-1s or restrictive diets to "fix" a BMI category, we are chasing a phantom. Research consistently shows that fitness and lifestyle behaviors (like joyful movement, adequate sleep, and executive functioning support) are much stronger predictors of longevity than body mass.

My Therapeutic Toolkit

Healing the relationship between an ADHD brain and an eating-disordered body requires more than just talk therapy. We use deep, evidence-based tools to address the root causes:

1. Internal Family Systems (IFS)

In IFS, we view "food noise" not as a glitch, but as a Part of you.

Often, there is a "Manager" part that uses food to soothe ADHD under-stimulation or a "Firefighter" part that uses food to douse the flames of emotional pain.
Instead of trying to exile these parts, we get curious about them. What are they protecting you from? When we acknowledge their intent, the "noise" often softens naturally because the Part finally feels heard.

2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Diet culture is a collective trauma, and for many, specific experiences of weight stigma or restrictive environments are stored in the body as "stuck" memories.

We use EMDR to process the trauma of living in a fat-phobic society and the sensory overwhelm that often comes with ADHD.
By desensitizing these triggers, your nervous system can move out of "survival mode" (where food noise lives) and into a state of safety.

3. The Body Trust® Framework

This is the foundation and inform our work constantly. With a Body Trust certified provider like me, we work to dismantle the "perfection" narrative.

We shift the goal from weight loss to body sovereignty.
We practice listening to the body’s cues, not as commands to be feared, but as data to be respected.

The Body Trust Alternative

In a Body Trust framework, we don't view food noise as an enemy to be silenced. We view it as a messenger.

Instead of going to war with the thoughts, we ask:

Am I hungry? (Physical restriction)
Am I under-stimulated? (ADHD dopamine seeking)
Am I seeking safety? (Emotional regulation)

When we "mute" the body through pharmaceutical or restrictive means without addressing the underlying needs, we reinforce the idea that the body cannot be trusted. Fatness is not a failure of willpower, and hunger is not a technical error.

Specialized ADHD Evaluations

Many people struggle with food noise for decades without realizing their brain is simply starved for dopamine, not just calories. Understanding your neurobiology is a massive piece of the puzzle.

I offer comprehensive ADHD evaluations to help you understand how your unique brain works. Whether you are looking for clarity for yourself or documentation for accommodations, getting an accurate diagnosis is often the first step in realizing that you aren't "lazy" or "addicted": your brain and body are neurodivergent.

Work With Me in Kirkland, WA

If you are ready to stop the war against your body and start building a life based on trust and neuro-affirming care, I am here to help. Email me or schedule your free 20 minute consultation now.

Location: In-person and online sessions available at my office in Kirkland, WA.
Openings: I currently have in-person openings for new clients.
Focus: Eating Disorders, ADHD, and Chronic Dieting Recovery.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific health needs.

Understanding "Food Noise": A Reclaimed Perspective from the Intersection of ADHD and Eating Disorders