JAKARTA - For some people, the biggest challenge in managing weight is not just to hold hunger, but to stop thinking about food. This condition is known as food noise, a constant thought impulse about food, even when the body does not need intake. Food noise is not just a normal desire to eat, but reflects how the brain responds to food, stress, habits, and the environment.
This phenomenon is now increasingly recognized in scientific literature as part of the biological mechanism of obesity. This issue is in the spotlight in a media discussion titled "Food Noise Mereda, Berat Badan Terjaga: Bersama Mengubah Paradigma Obesitas" which was held today, Friday, May 8.
Obesity itself is a complex chronic disease and is not solely influenced by willpower or eating patterns. Based on the World Obesity Atlas 2022, Indonesia ranks 3rd out of 10 countries in Southeast Asia with the highest estimated prevalence of obesity.
Behind these numbers, food noise is a factor that is often not realized. Although it sounds like a new term, this concept has been known for a long time and is now increasingly supported by scientific literature. Unlike hunger, which is a natural signal of the body, food noise is a persistent and intrusive thought about food, even when the body does not need intake.
This condition not only triggers overeating, but also causes mental burdens such as guilt and anxiety, as well as making it difficult for individuals to maintain a consistent eating pattern.
"Many people with obesity have tried hard, but still find it difficult because the challenge is not only about discipline, but also the complex biology of the body. Understanding food noise is important so that we no longer simplify obesity as a personal failure," said dr. Iflan Nauval, M.ScIH, Sp.GK, Subsp.KM, Sp.KKLP, AIFO-K, Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Clinical Nutrition Specialist Doctors Association (PP PDGKI).
"Currently, the paradigm for treating obesity has shifted from just 'counting calories' to 'improving biology'. In this approach, lifestyle interventions and medical therapies are complementary to improve body mechanisms that cannot be solved by diet alone. Our focus is no longer just lowering the numbers on the scales, but protecting organ function and improving the quality of life of patients," he added.
Obesity is often misunderstood as a mere behavioral or lifestyle problem, although it involves disorders in neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate hunger and satiety. As a result, treatment often focuses only on lifestyle changes, even in severe cases, thus limiting access to the necessary medical therapies. In fact, although diet is important for prevention, this approach is not enough to address the biological aspects of obesity, so a more comprehensive and science-based approach is needed.
This understanding encourages a shift in the approach to treating obesity, from simply restricting calories to a biology-based approach that targets the disease mechanism. In this approach, lifestyle interventions and medical therapies are no longer seen as separate options, but rather as complementary components in the management of obesity.
Medical innovations such as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) play a role in helping regulate hunger and satiety signals through the appetite control center in the brain. By working on biological pathways that regulate appetite and satiety, these innovations have been clinically shown to improve eating control through reduced hunger, reduced food cravings, and increased satiety. This directly helps reduce calorie intake and relieve excessive eating urges, including food noise.
The presence of this innovation provides a hope that relieves individuals who struggle with food-related mental disorders, as well as complements lifestyle changes as part of a more comprehensive treatment.
Clinically, Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 RA therapy has shown benefits in supporting significant weight loss, so that 1 in 3 patients can lose more than 20 percent of their body weight.
More than that, this approach emphasizes the concept of quality weight loss, namely effective fat mass loss while maintaining muscle mass. Furthermore, this therapy also has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 20 percent.
"It is important for individuals with obesity to move from self-help to professional medical assistance in managing weight. By understanding that obesity is a complex disease, we can encourage more appropriate and science-based treatment," said Riyanny Meisha Tarliman, Associate Director, Clinical, Medical, and Regulatory, Novo Nordisk Indonesia.
"We also encourage the public to access the NovoCare.id website as an accurate source of information, to distinguish myths and facts about obesity, as well as to get guidance to get the right medical assistance in the weight management journey," he added.
Through education on obesity and food noise, Novo Nordisk Indonesia emphasizes the importance of a science-based approach to help more people understand that obesity is not just a matter of will, but a medical condition that requires proper support and treatment.
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