Some people are worried about the possible side effect of ‘food noise’ after coming off Mounjaro.
Also known as tirzepatide, the weight-loss drug is a prescription medication designed for patients with type 2 diabetes in England.
Since the NHS’ rollout on 23 June, it has also been prescribed as a weight-loss drug for some individuals with a particular BMI and eligible health conditions.
Earlier this week, however, one person on Reddit said they were thinking about taking the drug, but one of their biggest concerns is ‘managing to keep the food noise away’ once they stop using it.
Food noise is a term which refers to constant thoughts about food when you aren’t even hungry.
I’m sure constant reels of influencers shoving down mouth-watering dishes don’t help either.
But while Mounjaro is designed to help people lose weight by reducing appetite and controlling blood sugar, some users say the mental focus on food can come back stronger once they stop using the drug, or even during treatment.
Some people are concerned about the potential return of ‘food noise’ after stopping Mounjaro (Getty Stock Images)
One Reddit user who said they were taking Mounjaro wrote: “Does anyone else notice that after the first couple of weeks of moving up to a new dose, are you noticing the food noise starting to return? Almost as if you’re building a tolerance to it with each passing week?”
Meanwhile pharmacist HaVy Ngo-Hamilton told Healthline: “When stopping tirzepatide, it is highly likely your appetite will return to what you considered normal before using the drug.
“Within one to two weeks after stopping the medication, patients may experience rebound hunger and appetite.”
What’s the difference between food noise and hunger?
Hunger and food noise are often mistaken for the same thing, but they’re actually quite different.
The former is a physical signal from the body that it needs fuel, with noticeable symptoms like a growling stomach, low energy, lightheadedness, or irritability.
Food noise, however, is the constant stream of thoughts about eating, even when your body isn’t truly hungry.
It’s a nudge to eat just because you smelled popcorn, watched a video on Insta or passed by a bakery.
It’s actually known scientifically as ‘food cue sensitivity’.
Another way to look at it is hunger is pretty much rooted in biology, while food noise is more psychological and is influenced by visual triggers, smells, emotional stress or even boredom.
Sounds a lot like my Friday night.
In another thread on Reddit, one person described it as: “For me it was thinking about food as soon as I woke up and wondering what to have for lunch as I was having breakfast. Just constantly thinking about food and eating.”
Putting on weight after coming off weight-loss drugs can be common (Getty Stock Images)
“For me I could be doing ANYTHING—watching TV, emails—and what I wanted to eat would be running in the background. Like doing an inventory of what was in the pantry or fridge. I would think all day about what I wanted for dinner. That sort of thing. It’s awful,” a second added.
“This can make weight management feel like a battle you’re destined to lose,” pharmacist Robert Bradshaw said for Oxford Online Pharmacy.
“In fact, many individuals with food noise not only fail to lose weight—they often continue to gain weight despite aiming for the opposite.”
How to combat food noise
Bradshaw said that the best ways to combat food noise were to eat more protein to help you feel full for longer, and to make sure you’re properly hydrated, as thirst and hunger can sometimes be confused.
He also said ‘stress can increase the drive to eat’, so meditating and going for a short walk might be a good alternative to snacking.
For those wanting to explore weight loss medication, he added that injections like Mounjaro can be ‘a game-changer for those who have spent years battling food noise’.
LADbible Group has contacted Mounjaro’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, for a comment.