The thing that changed for me was not hunger, it was that the constant background negotiation about food simply stopped, and I had not realised it was constant until it was not.
What I am after is whether the quiet is the same mechanism as the appetite suppression or a separate one, because they seem to come and go on different schedules.
If the honest answer is that nobody knows, that is a useful answer and I would rather have it.
LabKate said:The thing that changed for me was not hunger, it was that the constant background negotiation about food simply stopped, and I had not realised it was…
Alcohol relationship change with food noise: I used to drink 3-4 beers most nights. Since starting GLP-1 therapy, I have zero interest in alcohol. Haven't had a drink in 6 months.
The "food noise" reduction seems to extend to other reward-seeking behaviors, including alcohol. My liver enzymes have improved, my sleep is better, and I've saved roughly $156/month on alcohol. Triple win.
Dr.CardioMD said:Alcohol relationship change with food noise: I used to drink 3-4 beers most nights.
"Food aversion" side effect of food noise that I wasn't prepared for: I used to LOVE cooking and trying new restaurants. Now certain foods — especially red meat — literally repulse me.
It's not just reduced appetite; it's an active disgust response. My therapist says this is common and likely related to the reward pathway modulation. It's mostly a positive change, but I do miss enjoying food the way I used to.
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Shop Reference StandardsLabKate said:The thing that changed for me was not hunger, it was that the constant background negotiation about food simply stopped, and I had not realised it was…
Mine went the same way, slower. The detail I would add is minor and it is already implied above.
Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.
The GLP-1 and alcohol use disorder connection, relevant to food noise: observational data from Scandinavian registries shows reduced alcohol-related hospitalizations in GLP-1 agonist users[1].
The mechanism is plausible: GLP-1R is expressed in the mesolimbic reward pathway (VTA, nucleus accumbens). Agonism at these receptors may reduce the reinforcing properties of alcohol, similar to the reduction in "food noise."
RCTs for GLP-1 agonists in AUD are now underway. If positive, this would be a paradigm-shifting repurposing of existing medications.
[1] Wang W, et al. Nat Med. 2024;30:574-584.