When Food Noise Becomes a Problem Everyone thinks about food to some extent. We all need calories and nutrients to survive. Plus, food is part of all cultures and a source of enjoyment. But thoughts about food can become excessive and harmful. “It often comes up with patients,” says Steven Batash, MD, founder of Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center in Queens, NY. “Some people become almost dysfunctional because all they think about all day is food.” A key issue is how we respond to our food noise, says David Creel, PhD, a psychologist, registered dietitian, and exercise physiologist at Cleveland Clinic. “It can certainly be a problem,” Creel says, if it prompts unhealthy eating and leads to, or worsens, obesity or other medical conditions. Why Willpower Doesn’t Cut It Many things affect weight, including genetic, social, cultural, economic, and environmental influences. Psychology is also part of it. Thoughts about food can be triggered by internal cues (including hormones invo...