How hearing can affect weight
Over 100 million people in Europe are exposed to harmful levels of environmental noise pollution. Road traffic noise, in particular, has emerged as a major public health problem in many urban areas and is the top form of noise pollution in Europe. But is there a link between long-term exposure to traffic noise and the risk of obesity? A new study supported by the EU-funded LONGITOOLS project has looked into the causal relationship between body constitution and hearing loss. The study sought to answer the question whether hearing function is important for understanding the link between noise exposure and obesity. Using data from publicly available genome-wide association studies in repositories such as the UK Biobank, FINNGEN and the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits consortium, the research team investigated adults between 52 and 63 years of age. Data was obtained on body constitution (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat percentage) as well as hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss and age-related hearing impairment).
Challenging current ideas
As reported in a LONGITOOLS press release, the study’s results “challenge the notion that an increase in adiposity-related measures directly causes hearing loss.” However, the research team did make an interesting discovery. They found that age-related hearing impairment may lead to a lower BMI and reduced body fat percentage in adults of European descent. In other words, impaired hearing caused by old age could affect body weight and fat. “Our research provides evidence that older individuals with hearing problems may experience weight loss and reduced fat. This poses challenges for those dealing with hearing loss and undernutrition simultaneously,” remarks study lead author Yiyan He of LONGITOOLS project coordinator University of Oulu, Finland, in the press release. “Increased nutritional support is crucial for this vulnerable group,” she adds. By studying the interactions between environmental, lifestyle and biological factors, LONGITOOLS (Dynamic longitudinal exposome trajectories in cardiovascular and metabolic non-communicable diseases) intends to determine people’s risks of developing diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and atherosclerosis. The project ends in June 2025. For more information, please see: LONGITOOLS project website
Keywords
LONGITOOLS, hearing loss, noise, traffic noise, noise pollution, body fat, body mass index, obesity