Is Transportation Noise Associated with Obesity?

The study aims to examine the association between exposure to traffic noise and markers of obesity in university students. The sample comprised of 484 university students, 25.6% males and 74,4% females, mean age 22.9±2 years, 188 (38.8%) living in the dormitory exposed to road traffic noise and 296 (61.2%) living in the dormitory not exposed to traffic noise − the control one. Equivalent noise levels were assessed for both the control and exposed groups by a hand-held sound level analyzer. Students from the exposed group are more annoyed by road traffic noise, disturbing their sleep and causing awakening. From obesity markers, the percentage of body fat assessed by the NIR (Near Infrared Radiation) method has the tendency to be positively associated with the traffic noise exposure in multiple linear and logistic regression (beta = 1.320, p=0.02, r2=0.14; AOR= 1.76; 95% CI=1.77-2.66), after adjustment for gender and the other behavioral, psychosocial and nutritional factors presented in the complex variable the Cardiovascular Risk Score. The limitations of the study are the young age, the short duration of the stay in the dormitory and the relatively small sample size. Future research is necessary to overcome these limitations and extend its inferences to the general population.