Actor Portrayal

Food Noise vs Food Cravings: Understanding the Difference

 
One major obstacle to achieving weight loss goals can be how much someone thinks about food. 
 
While hunger is an important sensation that tells us we need food, it can be overshadowed by something else: cravings. Cravings are strong desires for specific foods even when we aren’t hungry. For some people, these cravings may be triggered by emotions, making it harder to stick to weight-loss goals. 
 

What are food cravings?

Food cravings are intense desires for a particular food or flavor—sometimes just for the food itself. Cravings may only be occasional and are often resolved (at least temporarily) by eating the desired food.
 
Food cravings are not always bad, but many people crave foods high in sugar and fat but tend to individual preferences—whether it’s the allure of chocolate, the salty crunch of chips, or the rich taste of a favorite restaurant dish.
 

Why do we get food cravings? 

It’s pretty common to experience food cravings—but why do they happen?
 
Sometimes, they’re triggered by sensory cues—like seeing an ad for pizza or smelling fresh-baked cookies. Other times, cravings can come from signals inside your body, such as changes in the levels of hormones that control appetite. These biological cues can make your brain focus on seeking specific foods for quick energy or comfort.
 
Giving into food cravings can also create a self-reinforcing cycle. When you give in to cravings, especially for high-sugar or high-fat foods, your brain's reward system becomes activated. This reinforces the connection between cravings and those specific foods, leading to more persistent thoughts about them. It happened to Katie, a real CONTRAVE patient:
 
“I felt like my brain was working against me when it came to dieting. I felt like I had a relationship with food that was keeping me from healthy eating and losing weight. My brain would convince me I needed it, and that eating just a little more would satisfy my craving.”
 
Cravings often come with a strong emotional or physical component. For some, controlling cravings when dealing with emotions like stress or boredom can be difficult.
 

Are food cravings the same as “food noise?” 

“Food noise” is an emerging concept in the weight loss community. Unlike food cravings, food noise isn’t necessarily about the desiring a specific food. It’s more like an intrusive background hum of preoccupation with food in general, often feeling like your life revolves around food.  
 
Thinking about food and wanting to eat are natural parts of the human relationship with food. However, an unchecked obsession with unhealthy foods can lead to unplanned eating and interfere with weight management goals.
 

How to manage food cravings and food noise

Just as with weight loss, there is no one-size-fits-all method to control food cravings and persistent thoughts about food. But there are some proven strategies for countering them holistically:
 
Mindful eating: Slowing down to focus on the experience of eating when you do eat can help reduce the mental chatter about food.
Redirect your thoughts: Distracting yourself with a walk, hobby, or conversation can help quiet the mental chatter about food.
Whole foods and balanced nutrition: Eating a diet rich in proteins, healthy fats, and fiber can help stabilize blood sugar levels and help keep the feeling of fullness longer after a meal.
Getting enough sleep: Poor sleep can contribute to weight gain in many ways, including increasing cravings and making it more difficult to make healthy food choices.
 
With some self-compassion and the right strategy, you can help manage cravings and build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with food!
 

Consider a prescription weight loss medication

If you’re still struggling with food cravings, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor. Some prescription weight loss medications can help with food cravings. 
 
CONTRAVE is an FDA-approved oral weight-loss medication prescribed, alongside diet and exercise, for people who are overweight or living with obesity. It’s designed to help reduce hunger and control cravings, like those associated with dealing with emotions like stress, so you can lose weight and keep it off.*
 
Watch a video about how CONTRAVE is believed to work on cravings* HERE.  
 
*The exact neurochemical effects of CONTRAVE leading to weight loss are not fully understood.

 

 

CON-2286-001 02/25

Back to Blog
Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See More 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

Important Safety Information
See More
CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.
What is CONTRAVE?
See More
CONTRAVE is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:
Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.

  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

    • have trouble breathing

    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing

    • have slow, shallow breathing

    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms

  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid, including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.

  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.

  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.

  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.

  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.

  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.