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Can’t stop thinking about food? Experts point to an unexpected cause

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Can’t stop thinking about food? Experts point to an unexpected cause

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Amid conflicting guidance, GLP-1 weight-loss trends and recent updates to dietary guidelines, navigating nutrition advice can feel overwhelming.

As weight-loss conversations increasingly focus on medications, some Americans may be looking for more natural ways to quiet what’s often called “food noise.”

Here are some tips to help tune it out.

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What is food noise?

Food noise can be described as frequent thoughts about food that can sometimes be mistaken as hunger, experts say.

Food noise can be described as frequent thoughts about food that can sometimes be mistaken as hunger, experts say. (iStock)

Northwell Health’s The Well describes it as a “steady background loop of food-related thoughts” that can interfere with daily life and decision-making about eating.

This can lead someone to eat excess calories, causing weight gain, obesity and other medical problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

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“It’s a lot of unnecessary, excessive thoughts around food that can be exhausting,” Kat Garcia-Benson, registered dietitian-nutritionist at VNutrition, a wellness brand that offers plant-based dishes and expert nutrition tips, told Fox News Digital.

“You might have thoughts like: ‘I’m craving this,’ ‘When is my next meal?’, ‘What should I eat to be healthier?’, ‘I should eat this,’ or ‘I shouldn’t eat that,’” added the Texas-based expert.

Certain behaviors — such as skipping meals, ignoring hunger clues, relying on rigid food rules and cutting out entire food groups — can worsen food noise. (iStock)

Certain behaviors can worsen food noise. These may include skipping meals, ignoring hunger clues, relying on rigid food rules and cutting out entire food groups, according to Garcia-Benson.

Studies have shown that some medical conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome and depression, can also increase food noise, as can stress and inadequate sleep. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, can also exacerbate it.

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“It’s also important to note that food noise is not a personal failure or [due to] having a lack of willpower,” Garcia-Benson added. “For many people, it’s a response from years of dieting/food restriction, stress or inconsistent nourishment.”

Drivers of hunger

“The impulse to eat is driven by three core aspects: hunger, satiety, and pleasure or reward,” Dr. Vinita Tandon, chief medical officer of Medi-Weightloss, a physician-supervised weight-loss program based in Tampa, told Fox News Digital.

The body naturally makes a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, which helps to regulate appetite and food intake.

“It’s a lot of unnecessary, excessive thoughts around food that can be exhausting.”

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In people with obesity, however, the body’s natural GLP-1 response may be less effective at signaling fullness, Tandon noted.

GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, can fast-track weight loss by mimicking a natural hormone that suppresses appetite and helps people feel full sooner, the expert said.

In people with obesity, the body’s natural GLP-1 response may be less effective at signaling fullness. (iStock)

They also offer an additional benefit by acting on the brain’s rewards pathway.

When someone eats a brownie, for example, they experience a surge in a “pleasure hormone” known as dopamine, Tandon said. GLP-1 medications blunt this response, so the person feels no differently eating a brownie than when eating a spinach salad.

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“We no longer crave those unhealthy, sugary foods because we don’t derive pleasure from them anymore,” she added.

6 tips to tune out food noise

Some triggers of food noise may be internal – like certain hunger hormones that can make us eat more — while others are external, like seeing a favorite snack or getting a whiff of a freshly baked pie.

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“[Some] people find that peeling back the layers and building a healthier relationship with food can quiet the food noise, especially when it comes from a lifetime of diet cycling – like moving between restrictive diets and periods of overconsumption,” Garcia-Benson said.

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Experts shared the following natural techniques that can help reduce food noise.

No. 1: Keep a “hunger record”

Writing down when your food cravings are loudest — such as when scrolling on your phone — can help you identify any triggers.

Health experts recommend that adults get 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day and at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, with higher protein intakes often advised for appetite control. (iStock)

No. 2: Increase fiber and protein intake

Research shows that these nutrients help you stay full longer, stimulating natural GLP-1 hormones to send signals to the brain that lessen cravings.

Health experts recommend that adults get 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day and at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, with higher protein intakes often advised for appetite control. 

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No. 3: Slow down and be more present when eating

Focusing solely on food and eating mindfully can help to curb appetite, experts say.

Harvard experts recommend eating more slowly and paying attention to each bite — without distractions like phones or TV — to better recognize fullness cues and avoid overeating.

No. 4: Get enough sleep

People who don’t sleep well may have a difficult time being disciplined about food intake the next day. They often crave highly processed and carb-heavy foods to increase their energy, multiple studies have shown.

Health authorities recommend that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

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Focusing solely on food and eating mindfully can help to curb the appetite, experts say. (iStock)

No. 5: Manage stress

Chronic stress lowers the production of natural GLP-1 and leads to high cortisol levels, which can lead to weight gain, according to Tandon.

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Experts recommend managing chronic stress with mindfulness, meditation and consistent physical activity to help lower cortisol levels and support healthier metabolic function and weight regulation, per Cleveland Clinic.

No. 6: Exercise regularly

Physical activity has been shown to boost GLP-1 levels. Most health authorities recommend that adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week and at least two days per week of muscle-strengthening activities.

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Former wrestler, actor reveals breast cancer diagnosis: ‘One in 750 men’

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Former wrestler, actor reveals breast cancer diagnosis: ‘One in 750 men’

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Former professional wrestler and actor Tyler Mane announced he has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Known for his roles in “X-Men” and “Halloween,” Mane shared the news publicly to help raise awareness about a condition that is frequently overlooked in men.

“I have some bad news. I start chemo today,” Mane stated in a video posted to his social media channels. “One in 750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and I’m one of them.”

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Because breast cancer is predominantly associated with women, many men are unaware that they are also at risk. However, according to Mayo Clinic, everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue.

While women go on to develop more of this tissue during puberty, the biological foundation for the disease exists in everyone.

Known for his roles in X-Men and Halloween, Mane shared the news publicly to help raise awareness about a condition that is frequently overlooked in men. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)

The most common symptom of male breast cancer is a hard, painless lump located directly behind or near the nipple, according to experts. Other signs can include skin dimpling, nipple retraction or discharge.

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Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases globally. Because routine screenings like mammograms are not standard practice for men, the disease is often caught much later than it is in women.

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Mane highlighted this issue as a primary motivation for speaking out. “Because it’s rarely talked about, it’s usually found at later stages and has worse outcomes,” he said. “I want to change that.”

Experts say the most common symptom of male breast cancer is a hard, painless lump located directly behind or near the nipple. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Medical data supports Mane’s concerns regarding late-stage detection. While male breast cancer can occur at any age, it is most frequently diagnosed in older men, according to Mayo Clinic.

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Men’s treatment plans generally mirror those for women, typically involving surgery to remove the breast tissue, followed by chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy depending on how far the cancer has progressed.

Treatment plans generally mirror those for women, typically involving surgery to remove the breast tissue, followed by chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy depending on how far the cancer has progressed. (Rune Hellestad/Corbis via Getty Images)

Mane said he is utilizing his platform to normalize conversations about male health and encourage early detection. He concluded his video by asking his followers to spread the word and help educate others.

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“Follow, like and share, and come along for my journey to kick this thing in the ass,” Mane said. “Send this to 10 of your friends and have them follow me, because people need to hear this.”

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New York anchor Bill Ritter announces Alzheimer’s diagnosis during his final Eyewitness News broadcast

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New York anchor Bill Ritter announces Alzheimer’s diagnosis during his final Eyewitness News broadcast

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Veteran New York news anchor Bill Ritter revealed Friday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, bringing an end to his more than two-decade run behind the WABC-TV anchor desk.

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Ritter, 76, who has anchored the station’s 6 p.m. newscast in New York City since 2001, revealed during Friday’s Eyewitness News broadcast that it would be his final night anchoring the program.

“After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter said during the broadcast.

“It’s early-stage Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, for now,” he continued. “But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.”

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Veteran New York news anchor Bill Ritter announced that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and is stepping away from the WABC-TV anchor desk. (Linda Rosier/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

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“So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor,” he added.

According to ABC7, Ritter joined WABC-TV in 1998 after an extensive journalism career that included work at the Los Angeles Times, local television stations in California and positions with ABC News.

He began anchoring the station’s 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in 1999 and was added to the flagship 6 p.m. newscast in 2001. He also anchored the station’s 5 p.m. broadcast for several years.

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Bill Ritter has anchored WABC-TV’s 6 p.m. newscast in New York City since 2001. (Heidi Gutman/Disney via Getty Images)

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ABC7 reported that Ritter will remain with the station in a new role focused in part on reporting about Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions, as well as their impact on patients and families.

“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most,” WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez said in a statement.

“A defining presence at ABC7, he has done so with exceptional insight, integrity and, most of all, heart, earning the love and respect of viewers and colleagues alike,” she continued.

“While he is stepping away from daily anchoring, he will continue to be an integral part of our ABC7 family, including sharing personal updates and providing resources to help others impacted by Alzheimer’s better understand the disease and the resources available to them.”

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Bill Ritter, Eyewitness News Anchor, WABC-TV, speaks onstage at the ROAR Forward Summit at Hearst Tower on November 19, 2024 in New York City. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Hearst)

“Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look forward to his continued reporting on Eyewitness News,” Galvez added.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to Ritter’s announcement by wishing the veteran broadcaster and his family “strength in the days ahead.”

“For decades, Bill Ritter has been a trusted presence in New Yorkers’ homes, helping us make sense of the news that shape our city,” Mamdani wrote on X. “

“His courage in sharing his Alzheimer’s diagnosis will help countless families facing the same challenge feel less alone,” he continued. “Wishing Bill, his loved ones, and everyone affected by Alzheimer’s strength in the days ahead.”

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Ritter’s colleagues also reacted to his announcement.

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WABC-TV reporter Lucy Yang paid tribute to Ritter’s professionalism and dedication during his decades-long career at the station.

“For decades, I’ve reported for his show and even filled in, anchored w him,” she posted on X. “He never gave less than 110% I salute you. I thank you. And I will pray for you.”

Lee Goldberg, the station’s chief meteorologist, said Ritter’s influence would continue long after he stepped away from the anchor desk.

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“He preaches be kind, take care of each other, & we’re all in this together,” Goldberg said on X. “Now, in addition to doing these things for himself & his loving family, he’ll build on his legendary legacy by helping millions who share his battle.” 

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“You’re a saint, and my hero @billritter7,” he added. “Love you.”

Ritter also noted during the broadcast that his father died from Alzheimer’s disease in 1998 after battling the illness for years.

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Thought Yo-Yo Dieting Ruined Your Metabolism? New Research Says Otherwise

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Thought Yo-Yo Dieting Ruined Your Metabolism? New Research Says Otherwise


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Stuck Yo-Yo Dieting? You’re Healthier Than You Think




















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