The researchers aimed to investigate the prevalence of disordered eating habits and full-blown eating disorders among university students in Norway. With an emphasis on a comparative analysis of data from 2018 and 2022, the SHoT study observed a diverse cohort that reflects the demographic landscape of Norwegian university students. By utilizing a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the researchers amassed a wealth of data that provides insights into the evolving trends of eating behaviors during and after the pandemic.

One of the key findings revealed that the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors had notably increased in the wake of the pandemic. While the 2018 data showcased a concerning baseline, the 2022 follow-up demonstrated a significant uptick in behaviors linked to anxiety, depression, and increased stress. These findings resonate loudly, highlighting that university students, who are often at a transitional phase in life, faced unprecedented challenges that may have exacerbated their existing vulnerabilities concerning food and body image.

The rise of disordered eating among this demographic is alarming. Many students reported using food as a coping mechanism to manage their emotional turmoil, a behavior that can quickly spiral into unhealthy patterns. Emotional eating, binge eating, and restrictive dieting are just a few manifestations of this growing issue. With lockdowns and remote learning, many students found themselves isolated, leading to heightened feelings of loneliness which, combined with academic pressure, intensified pre-existing mental health struggles.

In addition to emotional impacts, the pandemic significantly altered the social landscape for students. Traditional support systems, such as campus counseling services and peer groups, were disrupted. This lack of access to mental health support likely contributed to the increase in disordered eating behaviors. The shift to online classes also meant that many students experienced a degree of disconnection from their social circles, further isolating those who may have already been struggling with their mental health and relationship with food.

Interestingly, the study identifies specific factors that contributed to the increase in disordered eating. For instance, changes in lifestyle routines—such as reduced physical activity due to lockdowns—altered the way students engaged with both food and exercise. In particular, many students reported a decline in their physical fitness routines, which traditionally served as a means of enhancing mental health and managing stress. The introduction of online classes also led to more sedentary lifestyles, often accompanied by the convenience of snacking or emotional eating, as students found themselves at home for extended periods.

Another significant aspect highlighted within the study is the role of social media as both a catalyst and a detrimental influence on eating behaviors. In a time when in-person connection was limited, social media became a primary means of social interaction for many students. This digital environment often perpetuates unrealistic body standards and promotes diet culture, which can trigger feelings of inadequacy and disordered eating behaviors. The pressure to conform to idealized images can take a serious toll on self-esteem, leading to unhealthy practices as students attempt to achieve these unattainable standards.

Moreover, the pandemic’s repercussions on mental health cannot be overstated. Anxiety, stress, and depression are intertwined with eating disorders; as mental health deteriorates, so too can individuals’ relationships with food. The SHoT study illustrates how the pandemic created a perfect storm that pushed many students closer to engaging in disordered eating behaviors, as they grappled with the heightened uncertainties of academic and personal lives during a tumultuous time.

The researchers believe that the findings of this study necessitate urgent attention from both educational institutions and mental health services. Awareness campaigns that focus on mental health and wellness must be strengthened, with particular attention paid to the unique challenges faced by university students during and after the pandemic. Institutions should consider expanding access to mental health resources and facilitating open conversations about disordered eating and body image issues among students.

Moving forward, there is a pressing need for longitudinal studies that can continue to monitor these trends. Understanding the long-term implications of the pandemic on the mental health and eating behaviors of young adults will be vital for developing effective interventions. The SHoT study serves as a valuable resource in this regard and highlights the importance of continued research and attention to this pressing issue, which shows no signs of abating as the world continues to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic.

In conclusion, the study conducted by Jacobsen and colleagues serves as a wake-up call regarding the state of disordered eating among Norwegian university students. As we strive to understand the impact of external stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to recognize the holistic nature of health — one that intertwines mental, physical, and emotional well-being. By fostering supportive environments and addressing the underlying issues that contribute to disordered eating, we can help mitigate the harmful effects observed and work towards a healthier future for students everywhere.

With universities gradually returning to normal and students reintegrating into their social and academic lives, there remains much work to be done in addressing the fallout of the pandemic. Awareness, understanding, and proactive measures must be prioritized to support the well-being of students as they navigate the complexities of this new reality.

It may take time to fully comprehend the long-term effects of COVID-19 on eating behaviors and overall mental health among university students, yet findings such as those encapsulated in the SHoT study point towards learning opportunities. By listening to student experiences and prioritizing mental health support, stakeholders can build a compassionate framework that not only acknowledges the struggles students have faced but also equips them with the resources necessary to thrive going forward.

Subject of Research: Prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders among Norwegian university students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Article Title: Prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders among Norwegian university students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, 2018 and 2022: The SHoT study.

Article References: Jacobsen, L.M., Haugan, G., Dimitropoulos, G. et al. “Prevalence of disordered eating and eating disorders among Norwegian university students before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, 2018 and 2022: The SHoT study.” J Eat Disord 13, 173 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01370-3

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI:

Keywords: Eating disorders, university students, COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, disordered eating behaviors, SHoT study.

Food noise is an emerging construct in the landscape of eating behaviors and psychological health, characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts about food that can disrupt an individual’s relationship with eating. Defined theoretically by lead researcher Daisuke Hayashi and colleagues as “heightened and/or persistent manifestations of food cue reactivity, often leading to food-related intrusive thoughts and maladaptive eating behaviors,” this term has rapidly gained traction since its first appearances in media and clinical reports. This study specifically sought to understand how food noise is portrayed and discussed within the TikTok community, which boasts over one billion active users worldwide, predominantly comprised of children, teenagers, and young adults.

The surge in interest in food noise correlates strikingly with the rising popularity of anti-obesity medications like semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound). Google Trends data pinpoint a notable spike in search and content creation activity around food noise starting in 2023, peaking in April 2025. This temporal overlap suggests a link between the public’s curiosity about managing intrusive food cravings and the visibility of pharmacological interventions promoted both within medical channels and through social media influencers.

Researchers extracted and analyzed the 100 most viewed TikTok videos under the hashtag #FoodNoise on June 24th, 2024, removing one duplicate. These videos garnered an astounding average of over one million views each, with high engagement metrics including thousands of likes, comments, and shares. This data reflects the immense reach and potential impact of these short-form videos in shaping perceptions and attitudes about food noise, eating behaviors, and medication use among a large and impressionable audience.

Demographically, content creators were predominantly female (92%), largely over the age of 30 (82%), and predominantly White (86%). Intriguingly, about 20% of these creators identified as healthcare professionals, yet patient testimonials constituted nearly three-quarters (71%) of the videos. This blend of lived experience and professional insight offers a complex mosaic of narratives, where personal struggles with food noise and its management often intersect with clinical perspectives and endorsements of pharmaceutical options.

The portrayal of food noise in the analyzed TikTok videos was overwhelmingly negative; 86% characterized it as a distressing condition that significantly diminishes quality of life. This framing underscores the psychological burden and functional impairment reported by individuals suffering from food noise, lending credence to the growing recognition of this phenomenon as a distinct clinical and social issue warranting further investigation and intervention.

Pharmacological management emerged as a prevalent theme, with approximately half of the videos citing medications as a strategy to combat food noise. Among these, a striking 92% referenced GLP-1 receptor agonists, indicating that these drugs have become synonymous with attempts to silence or moderate intrusive food-related thoughts. The emphasis on medication raises critical questions about the translation of medical treatments into self-care practices, particularly in youthful audiences who may lack the nuanced understanding required to distinguish between pathological food noise and normal hunger signals.

An alarming finding revealed that only 5% of videos disclosed sponsorship, despite the widespread presence of promotional content. The potential for undisclosed advertising on TikTok highlights ethical and regulatory challenges in digital health communication. Viewers may be exposed to biased information framed as authentic personal narratives, blurring the borders between education, anecdote, and marketing. This dynamic risks fostering unrealistic expectations and dependency on pharmaceutical solutions among vulnerable populations, especially younger users.

Lead author Daisuke Hayashi cautioned about the dual-edged nature of TikTok’s role in this domain. While the platform provides a unique space for individuals to share their experiences and foster supportive communities, it simultaneously harbors risks associated with misinformation and over-medicalization of normal food-related behaviors. The nuanced differentiation between pathological food noise and everyday hunger and appetite remains poorly understood outside expert circles, complicating public discourse and possibly exacerbating disordered eating trends.

This investigation into TikTok’s content landscape around food noise serves as a vital first step in mapping how emerging health-related constructs proliferate through social media ecosystems. The research advocates for more comprehensive studies exploring lived experiences beyond online platforms to deepen understanding of food noise’s psychological and behavioral impacts. Such future inquiries could inform tailored clinical interventions, public health messaging, and policies regulating digital health communication.

Moreover, the study implicitly challenges clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to engage proactively with social media dynamics to counteract misinformation and promote balanced, evidence-based perspectives about eating behaviors and pharmaceutical interventions. Given TikTok’s prominence among youth, educational initiatives designed to enhance media literacy and foster critical consumption of digital content appear urgent in mitigating potential adverse effects on food-related cognitions and health outcomes.

In an era marked by the rapid evolution of social networks as health information hubs, this research elucidates the pressing need for vigilant oversight and innovative strategies to harness these platforms’ benefits while curtailing their inherent risks. The case of food noise and GLP-1RA discussions on TikTok exemplifies how novel psychological phenomena can intersect with pharmacotherapy in the public imagination, reshaping conceptions of hunger, craving, and mental wellbeing.

As this digital discourse unfolds, allowing authentic patient voices to be heard alongside rigorous scientific evidence will be paramount. Balancing hope offered by new medications with caution against overreliance and misunderstanding emerges as a critical public health priority. This investigation thus not only maps an emerging social phenomenon but also soundly grounds it within a clinical and behavioral health framework, setting the stage for informed future dialogues around food noise and its management.

Subject of Research: Social media portrayal of food noise and the use of anti-obesity medications (GLP-1 receptor agonists) on TikTok.

Article Title: Not provided in original content.

News Publication Date: 13-May-2025

Keywords: Food noise, TikTok, GLP-1 receptor agonists, anti-obesity medications, social media health communication, eating behaviors, intrusive food thoughts, semaglutide, tirzepatide, patient testimonies, misinformation, digital health literacy.