New Study Shows That Loud Surroundings Are Making Us Fat

If your noisy neighbors weren’t annoying enough, a new study shows they might also make you fat. According a team of Swedish researchers, a study on the effects of metabolism discovered a link between environmental noise and weight gain.

The study observed 5,000 people in Stockholm. Residents near noisy areas like airports, train tracks, or loud blocks, were found to be chubbier than their counterparts living in quieter areas.

Loud noises can lead to lack of sleep and cause prolonged stress. However, the researchers also hypothesized that the environmental noise also increased cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone known to stimulate fat growth.

According to the study, living by traffic will make people 0.21 centimeters thicker. Those living by a railroad were 0.46 centimeters fatter. Those living in an area with planes flying overhead will gain 0.99 centimeters.

While there’s really nothing those who live in metropolitan cities can do about this, it’s something interesting to keep in mind the next time residents are up all night thanks to environmental noise.