Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Shows 46% Reduction in Food Noise and Improved Mental Health in Real-World Survey
Key Insights
The INFORM survey of 550 people taking Wegovy revealed a 46% decline in constant food thoughts throughout the day, dropping from 62% before treatment to 16% during treatment.
Two-thirds of respondents (64%) reported improved mental health while taking Wegovy, with 80% developing healthier habits and 76% adopting healthier lifestyles.
The proportion of participants reporting that food noise negatively affected their lives decreased from 60% before treatment to 20% while on Wegovy therapy.
Novo Nordisk announced results from the US-based INFORM survey showing that people taking semaglutide for weight management (Wegovy) experienced substantial reductions in "food noise" - unwanted and intrusive thoughts about food - alongside notable improvements in mental well-being and lifestyle habits. The findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (search) (EASD) 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
Significant Reduction in Food-Related Thoughts
The survey of 550 people taking Wegovy demonstrated a 46% decline in the number of individuals experiencing constant thoughts about food throughout the day. Before starting treatment, 62% of participants reported persistent food thoughts, which dropped to just 16% while on Wegovy therapy.
The impact on quality of life was equally striking. The proportion of participants who reported that food noise had a negative effect on their lives decreased from 60% before starting treatment to 20% for respondents on Wegovy treatment.
"There are so many factors that challenge people with overweight (search) or obesity (search) in their efforts to lose weight, including food noise," said Filip Knop, MD PhD, senior vice president and incoming chief medical officer at Novo Nordisk. "It is very encouraging to see these new data from people using Wegovy that, in addition to weight loss, Wegovy may help quiet disruptive thoughts about food, support improved mental well-being and help enable people to live healthier lives."
Mental Health and Lifestyle Improvements
The survey revealed broad improvements in participants' overall well-being. Around two-thirds (64%) of respondents reported that their mental health improved since starting Wegovy treatment. Substantial majorities also reported developing a healthier lifestyle (76%) and healthier habits (80%).
Patient satisfaction with the treatment was high, with around 8 in 10 (83%) individuals expressing satisfaction with their Wegovy therapy.
Understanding Food Noise
Food noise represents a constant, obsessive and intrusive stream of food-related thoughts that is distinct from hunger and not necessarily related to the body's need for energy. This phenomenon is experienced by the majority of people with obesity (search) and can affect mental well-being through emotions such as guilt, shame and anxiety. Intrusive and excessive thoughts from food noise can distract people with obesity across many areas of their lives and can hinder weight loss efforts.
Study Design and Population
The INFORM survey utilized a previously validated Food Noise Questionnaire with 22 questions to assess the impact of Wegovy on mental well-being and eating habits relating to food noise. The mean age of participants was 53, with 86% reporting as female. Around two-thirds (64%) reported a weight of 92 kg or above when starting Wegovy treatment.
Expanding Evidence Base
These findings contribute to growing evidence of the broad health benefits of semaglutide in people with obesity (search), extending beyond its established effect on weight loss. Novo Nordisk continues to investigate how obesity impacts individuals' day-to-day lives, with additional research including the STEP UP clinical trial examining eating behavior and control of eating with semaglutide.
The full results of the STEP UP and STEP UP T2D clinical trials were published in Lancet Diabetes (search) Endocrinology on September 14, 2025, further supporting the comprehensive benefits of semaglutide therapy in obesity (search) management.