Scientists have found an unexpected factor in fat accumulation in the body

Scientists from the University of Munich have established that exposure to traffic noise is associated with increased fat deposits in the body and a higher risk of metabolic disorders. This is stated in an article published in the journal Environment International (EnvInter).

The results were obtained during a large-scale study in which experts analyzed more than 11 thousand MRI scans and body images of volunteers from the German National Cohort. The study revealed an alarming trend: even at noise levels below the officially established sanitary threshold of 53 dB, people showed a significant increase in the volume of fat under the skin, around internal organs, and in the liver. Even more concerning is the fact that an increase in noise exposure by just 10 dB was accompanied by a noticeable increase in these indicators in both men and women.

Notably, even after accounting for multiple potential influencing factors - air pollution, level of green space in the area, social status of participants, presence of chronic diseases, and lifestyle characteristics - the relationship between noise and fat deposits remained unchanged. This gives serious grounds to suggest a direct impact of noise on metabolic processes in the human body.

The study authors explain that nighttime noise disrupts sleep, intensifies stress reactions, and affects hormonal balance, which, in turn, is reflected in the distribution of fat in the body. Such changes are associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.

Given the data obtained, scientists urge considering traffic noise as an important risk factor for diseases and tightening regulations on its control - similar to measures against air pollution.