GLP-1’s, “Food Noise,” and What Our Bodies May Be Trying to Tell Us — Especially for Teens
In recent years, medications like GLP-1 agonists (such as Ozempic and Wegovy) have become widely discussed—not only for adults, but increasingly for teens and adolescents. They are praised for their ability to suppress appetite and reduce what people often call “food noise”—the constant thoughts about food, hunger, and eating.
For a teen struggling with their body or feeling overwhelmed by food thoughts, that “quieting” can feel like relief. The mental chatter slows down. Cravings soften. The pull toward food doesn’t feel as strong.
But before we rush to silence that voice, it’s worth asking:
What if food noise isn’t the enemy?
What if it’s information?
Food Noise Is a Signal, Not a Flaw
Our relationship with food is never just about calories or hunger—especially in adolescence. For teens, food is deeply connected to:
Emotional regulation
Peer pressure and belonging
Identity and self-worth
Stress and performance
And often, their sense of safety in their own bodies
When food thoughts become loud, repetitive, or urgent in a young person, it usually means something deeper is happening beneath the surface.
Sometimes food noise in teens is about:
Restriction and deprivation — When they are trying to eat “perfectly” or are told to lose weight, their brains become more preoccupied with food.
Stress and emotional overwhelm — Food can become one of the only reliable comforts.
Body dissatisfaction — When they feel ashamed or unsafe in their bodies, food can become grounding or escape.
Inadequate nourishment or structure — Skipping meals or under-eating makes food feel more urgent and consuming.
In other words, food noise is rarely random.
It is often the body’s way of saying:
“Something here needs attention.”
What GLP-1’s Do—and What They Don’t
GLP-1 medications work biologically. They:
Slow digestion
Increase fullness
Reduce appetite signals
That can certainly quiet food thoughts.
But what they don’t do is address:
Why eating has become emotional or compulsive
Why a teen may feel disconnected from or uncomfortable in their body
Why their self-worth has become tied to size or control
Why food feels like one of the only ways to cope
Silencing the hunger signal does not heal the need behind it.
It simply mutes the message.
When We Quiet the Noise Without Listening
For adolescents, quieting food noise with medication can be especially harmful if we don’t first understand what’s driving it.
It can unintentionally teach them:
That hunger is something to override, not understand
That their bodies are not safe or trustworthy
That thinner equals better or more worthy
That discomfort should be eliminated rather than tolerated and processed
And for teens already vulnerable to eating disorders, this can bring them closer—not further—from that risk.
The Deeper Work: Helping Teens Feel Safe in Their Bodies
The real goal is not to eliminate food thoughts.
The goal is to:
Understand what’s beneath them
Respond with compassion and skill
And help teens build a healthy, grounded relationship with food and their bodies
That means teaching them:
To eat regularly and adequately
To recognize emotional needs and respond in supportive ways
To tolerate discomfort rather than escape it
To develop self-worth from values, character, and purpose—not appearance
To feel at home in the bodies Hashem gave them
Because ultimately, health does not come from quieting the mind. It comes from healing what makes the mind feel so loud.
Food Noise May Be Asking for Understanding, Not Suppression
When a teen is preoccupied with food, instead of asking:
“How do we stop this?”
we might ask: “What is this telling us?”
Do they need:
More nourishment?
More structure?
More emotional support?
More safety in their body?
More self-compassion?
When we listen instead of silence, we don’t just change eating habits.
We build resilience, dignity, and lifelong health.
And that is the real protection our adolescents need.
