Noise Pollution May Increase Risk Of Obesity

Living next to a busy road or under a flight path can increase the risk of becoming obese, a study has found.

In the first research into the effect of noise pollution on waistlines, scientists say those who live near particularly busy roads or who often have aircraft flying overhead can see their sleep adversely affected.

This lack of sleep makes people less willing to exercise and, therefore, more likely to become overweight or obese.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, found that for every five-decibel increase above the standard traffic noise level of 45dB, the average person sees an extra 0.2cm increase in their waist circumference.

Andrei Pyko, lead author of the study at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, said that with increased urbanisation, traffic noise is a "common and increasing environmental exposure", followed by airport and railway noise.

He added: "Health effects related to traffic noise are widespread and span from annoyance, sleep disturbances and changes in stress hormone levels to adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

"Increasing evidence points to traffic noise as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke.

"Recent findings suggest that traffic noise may also affect the metabolic system, for example, inducing central obesity and type 2 diabetes."

The study looked at 5,075 men and women in Sweden and found that those in areas with lower noise levels were likely to have lived 10 years or more at the same address, have lower household income and report less sleep disturbance.

Those exposed to higher noise levels, on the other hand, were more likely to be single and report current smoking, psychological distress and noise annoyance.

Dr Pyko said: "Sleep is an important modulator of hormonal release, glucose regulation and cardiovascular function.

"Sleep disturbances may affect immune functions, influence the central control of appetite and energy expenditure as well as increase circulating levels of the stress hormone cortisol."

One in four Britons are obese, while 37% are overweight.