Traffic noise could increase the risk of obesity | health

According to studies, long-term exposure to road traffic noise can increase the risk of obesity.

The study of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health was published in Environment International. The authors of this study wanted to know if new research would confirm the results of the few previous studies that had demonstrated associations between traffic noise and several markers of obesity.

"Our analysis shows that people exposed to the highest levels of road noise are more likely to be obese," said Maria Foraster, lead author of the study. "For example, we observed that a 10 dB increase in average noise level was associated with a 17% increase in obesity."

The study's authors also analyzed the noise exposure generated by air and rail traffic and found no significant associations except in the case of long-term exposure to air and rail traffic. railway noise, associated with a higher risk of overweight but not obesity.

The methodology and design of the study were chosen to allow the authors to examine the data from two different perspectives. Cross-sectional analysis was used to study the participating population at a specific point in the study and to examine more objective measures.

The longitudinal design, on the other hand, allowed the authors to evaluate the evolution of the risk of obesity during the period of study. Associations with traffic-related noise pollution were consistent in both cases. Excess weight was only associated with traffic-related noise exposure in the cross-sectional analysis. The authors found no association between noise exposure and body mass index measured continuously throughout the longitudinal analysis.

"Our study provides additional evidence to support the hypothesis that traffic noise affects obesity because the results we obtained in a different population were the same as those reported by the authors of previous studies. Nevertheless, more longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the association and to examine some inconsistencies in the data that, until now, have prevented us from formulating an explanation accepted by the scientific community as a whole. " explained Maria Foraster.

Unfortunately, continued exposure to noise pollution is a widespread and more serious public health problem than previously thought. Noise generates stress and affects our sleep. It changes the levels of hormones and raises blood pressure. In addition, sleep disturbances derogate, among other things, from glucose metabolism and affect appetite.

"In the long term, these effects could lead to chronic physiological alterations, which would explain the proven association between persistent exposure to noise related to circulation and cardiovascular disease or the newly discovered association." between diabetes and obesity. Our findings suggest that traffic-related noise reduction could also be a way to combat the obesity epidemic, "added Maria Foraster.

First published: Nov 18, 2018 12:27 PM IST