Airport noise would make you fat
Living near an airport would not be ideal for our waistlines. This was concluded by a Swedish study published on May 5, 2014 in the journal Environment Heath Perspectives (1) .
The study
The Swedish researchers, led by Carolina Eriksson, had a clear objective which was to establish the long-term impacts following exposure to aircraft noise on:
- BMI (Body Mass Index)
- The waist circumference
- Type 2 Diabetes
For this 5156 people were studied over a period of up to 10 years. Their exposure to aircraft noise was determined in a very simple way: simply based on their residential history.
The course of the study in more detail
Originally 7949 people were involved in the study. Between 1992 and 1994 measurements were made in men, in order to obtain reference data. The same was done in women between 1996 and 1998 for women.
Armed with this reference, the researchers came back to these people 8 to 10 years later (from 2002 to 2004 for men, and from 2004 to 2006 for women). Some people, after this period of time, were excluded for various reasons (838 people left the city for example or died for example, etc.), which explains the differential between the original 7949 people and the 5156 people representative on arrival.
When they got back to the people being studied, the scientists established a full new follow-up as well as new examinations.
The study was approved by the Karolinska Institute, one of the most reputable research centers in Europe (based in Sweden, in Stockholm).
The researchers obtained from the various competent authorities digital maps allowing them to precisely locate the noise caused by the planes, to within 1dB on a map of Stockholm.
Noise would increase waist circumference
The results of the study are as follows:
- Regarding BMI, no clear association could be made
- Concerning the abdominal circumference, it is found that chronic exposure to noise would increase it by 1.5 cm for each increase of 5 decibels .
- Regarding Type 2 diabetes, no clear association could be made
Results which are explained, indicates the study, by the stress . By targeting their research on the impact at the endocrine level of regular exposure to noise, they have particularly focused on the level of cortisol in the blood, the stress hormone.
The researchers were thus able to demonstrate an increase in the cortisol level of people residing near an airport.
Cortisol (or hydrocortisone) is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland from cholesterol. It intervenes in particular in the increase of the glycemia, the regulation of the metabolism of greases, proteins and carbohydrates. It is a real metabolic initiator and regulator (2) .
The study concludes by stating that the association between aircraft nuisance and obesity is statistically significant with respect to this research . Despite this, it is indicated, still in the conclusions of the study, that “additional research, on a large scale, is necessary to be able to confirm the association”.
Previous studies and history
This abdominal obesity is in agreement with the results of a previous study published in the British Medical Journal on October 8, 2013 (3) which highlighted a higher risk of cardiovascular disease if one lived near an airport. Remember that abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes .
However, it should also be remembered that the researchers could not clearly demonstrate that there was an association with obesity calculated with BMI (Body Mass Index) and type 2 diabetes.
This study is also a continuation of the work carried out by Marja Heinonen-Guzejev (5) at the beginning of 2009, which established a link between noise sensitivity and medical, psychological and genetic consequences.
In addition, the World Health Organization has repeatedly indicated that noise pollution is regularly associated with disturbances and sleep disorders.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.