Noise pollution could be making you fatter: Study
Postmedia Network
First posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 11:50 AM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 12:12 PM EDT
Blame the planes, trains and automobiles for that muffin top, a new Swedish study suggests.
Researchers say noise from the three modes of transportation could raise stress levels, triggering the body to add more fat around the midsection.
The study looked at how much noise 5,075 people living around Stockholm, Sweden, were exposed to since 1999. They completed questionnaires on noise pollution, health, and their job. Researchers also gave them tests for blood pressure, diabetes, and measured their body mass index.
They found 62% had been regularly exposed to road traffic of at least 45 decibels, about one in 20 were exposed to similar noise levels from trains and about one-fifth to aircraft noise.
Researchers found no link between road traffic noise and body mass index, but did find a connection with waist size. The participants' belly fat increased .21 cm for every 5-decibel increase in noise — especially for those under the age of 60.
Experts found the more noise people were exposed to at the same time, the more belly fat they had.
"The heightened risk of a larger waist rose from 25% among those exposed to only one source to almost double for those exposed to all three sources," the researchers said in a press release.
The findings were published online in the British Medical Journal's Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Researchers say noise from traffic transportation could raise stress levels, triggering the body to add more fat around the midsection.
Noise pollution could be making you fatter: Study | Health & Fitness | Life | To
Postmedia Network
First posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 11:50 AM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 12:12 PM EDT
Blame the planes, trains and automobiles for that muffin top, a new Swedish study suggests.
Researchers say noise from the three modes of transportation could raise stress levels, triggering the body to add more fat around the midsection.
The study looked at how much noise 5,075 people living around Stockholm, Sweden, were exposed to since 1999. They completed questionnaires on noise pollution, health, and their job. Researchers also gave them tests for blood pressure, diabetes, and measured their body mass index.
They found 62% had been regularly exposed to road traffic of at least 45 decibels, about one in 20 were exposed to similar noise levels from trains and about one-fifth to aircraft noise.
Researchers found no link between road traffic noise and body mass index, but did find a connection with waist size. The participants' belly fat increased .21 cm for every 5-decibel increase in noise — especially for those under the age of 60.
Experts found the more noise people were exposed to at the same time, the more belly fat they had.
"The heightened risk of a larger waist rose from 25% among those exposed to only one source to almost double for those exposed to all three sources," the researchers said in a press release.
The findings were published online in the British Medical Journal's Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Researchers say noise from traffic transportation could raise stress levels, triggering the body to add more fat around the midsection.
Noise pollution could be making you fatter: Study | Health & Fitness | Life | To