You might also gain weight if you live near an airport

May 26, 2015 09:19 GMT  ·  By

In a new report in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, researchers in Sweden warn that people who live close to busy roads, railways or airports are more likely to gain weight than folks who live in somewhat less chaotic neighborhoods. 

The specialists say that this is because, when exposed to traffic noise pollution on a daily basis, most guys and gals become stressed. In turn, this can trigger an increase in their appetite and, consequently, foster weight gain.

What's interesting is that, according to the scientists behind this investigation, exposure to noise pollution resulting from intense traffic correlates with an accumulation of fat in the abdominal region. Yup, we're talking midriff bulge and love handles.

This is all the more worrying seeing how, as shown by previous studies, abdominal fat is especially dangerous to one's overall health condition in that it can take its toll on their internal organs and cause serious complications.

The Swedish researchers theorize that exposure to traffic noise pollution causes the body to produce more cortisol, which is a hormone known to be released in response to stress. It is these elevated cortisol levels that the scientists suspect trigger weight gain.

Come to think about it, it all makes perfect sense. In ancient times, it was those who packed more body fat who were most likely to survive harsh times. These days, the human body responds to stress in a similar way: it begins to store fat.

Documenting how noise pollution influences body weight

In their study in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, the Swedish scientists explain that, as part of their investigation, they assessed the overall health condition of 5,075 people living in suburban and rural areas around Stockholm.

The team also used official figures to determine the levels of noise pollution that the study participants were exposed to on a daily basis. Information concerning the 5,075 volunteers' dietary habits was also taken into consideration.

The investigation did not establish a link between the participants' body mass index and their exposure to noise pollution. Still, the researchers did document a 0.21 centimeters (0.08 inches) increase in waist size for each 5-decibel increase in traffic noise.

As detailed in the report describing this research project, this association between abdominal fat and exposure to high levels of air pollution was especially true in the case of women, Medical Express informs. However, men weren't spared either.

Of the sources of noise pollution whose effects on body weight were studied by the Swedish scientists, air traffic was found to affect people the most. Road traffic came second and the noise made by railways proved the most waistline-friendly.

Apart from forcing the body to produce more cortisol as a response to stress, it could be that noise pollution promotes weight gain by upsetting sleep patterns and consequently meal times and appetite.