A new international study is giving hope to Filipinos who struggle with constant food cravings, often called “food noise”—intrusive thoughts about eating that can make weight control mentally exhausting. For 42-year-old Marilou Paladin of Quezon City, the hardest part of her weight-loss journey wasn’t dieting, but the constant mental chatter about food.
At the 2025 European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference, Novo Nordisk presented findings from the INFORM survey, a large U.S. study showing that people using a modern weight-management treatment experienced a 46 percent reduction in persistent food thoughts. The number of participants who thought about food “all day” dropped from 62 percent to 16 percent and many reported better mental health, healthier habits, and overall satisfaction with their progress. While this treatment is not yet available in the Philippines, experts say the results matter as obesity continues to rise.
The 2023 National Nutrition Survey shows that four in ten Filipino adults live with obesity, with higher rates among women and urban residents. Dr. Neslie Buena-Bobis of Novo Nordisk Philippines said many Filipinos face not only physical challenges but also guilt, anxiety, and intrusive food thoughts. She emphasized that obesity is a chronic disease, not a failure of willpower, and called for more understanding and access to advanced treatments.
Novo Nordisk says the study highlights how modern therapies may improve both physical and emotional health. As global research progresses, the company remains focused on exploring treatments that can help people manage eating behavior, appetite, and mental well-being, offering renewed hope to those long affected by obesity and its stigma.
