The
constant sounds of horns honking, trains whistling, and planes flying
could have an impact on your weight, new research suggests.
According to a recent study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, traffic noise can lead to a larger waistline in both men and women.
The
study included 5,075 Swedish adults, whose blood pressure, diabetes
status, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio
using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of obesity were
all examined by researchers. They also answered a detailed questionnaire
that examined various aspects of their life, including health, sleep
habits, job stress, and noise pollution in their everyday environment
(including traffic noise, train noise, and aircraft noise).
The study researchers discovered:
- For every 5-decibel (dB) increase over 45 dB of road traffic noise, there was a 0.21-centimeter increase in waist circumference, with women being more at risk.
- For every 5-dB increase over 45 dB of road traffic noise, there was a 0.16 increase in waist-hip ratio, with men being more at risk.
- For people who were exposed to higher levels of all three sounds — road traffic noise, train noise, or aircraft noise — their risk for a larger midsection doubled.
“The
main finding of our study is that long-term exposure to traffic noise
of various sources — road, railway, and aircraft — may be a risk factor
for abdominal (central) obesity,” study author Andrei Pyko, MD, from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
Source : Yahoo News
0 comments:
Post a Comment