Scientists from the University of Oulu found that age-related hearing loss can lead to a decrease in body mass index and total body fat. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The study authors used data from the British Biobank, the FinnGen database and the Genetic Research of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium. They focused on patients whose average age was between 52 and 63 years old.
It turns out that age-related hearing loss can lead to lower BMI and total body fat in people of European descent. This is especially dangerous for those who have both hearing loss and are underweight or nutritionally deficient. Increased attention from healthcare providers may be critical for this vulnerable group.
Prolonged exposure to noise can cause hearing impairment or loss. Observational studies suggest that road noise may increase the risk of obesity, but in 2019 the World Health Organization rated the quality of evidence on the link between traffic noise and obesity as low or very low. The new study confirms that obesity is unlikely to be a risk factor for hearing loss.
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