There are plenty of health reasons to stay in shape, but did you know weight loss supports improved hearing?
Studies have demonstrated that exercising and eating healthy can improve your hearing and that people who are overweight have a higher chance of dealing with hearing loss. Understanding more about these associations can help you make healthy hearing decisions for you and your family.
Adult Hearing And Obesity
Women are more likely to experience hearing loss, according to research carried out by Brigham And Women’s Hospital, if they have a high body mass index (BMI). The relationship between height and body fat is what BMI measures. The higher the number the higher the body fat. The higher the BMI of the 68,000 women in the study, the higher their hearing loss amount. The heaviest people in the study had a 25% greater instance of hearing loss.
Another dependable indicator of hearing impairment, in this study, was the size of a person’s waist. With women, as the waist size gets bigger, the chance of hearing loss also increases. And finally, incidents of hearing loss were lower in people who engaged in frequent physical activity.
Children’s Hearing And Obesity
A study by Columbia University’s Medical Center demonstrated that obese teenagers had about twice the risk of developing hearing loss in one ear when compared to non-obese teenagers. These children suffered sensorineural hearing loss, which is a result of damage to sensitive hair cells in the inner ear that carry sound. This damage led to a decreased ability to hear sounds at low frequencies, which makes it difficult to hear what people are saying in crowded settings, such as classrooms.
Hearing loss in children is particularly worrisome because kids often don’t recognize they have a hearing issue. There will be an increasing risk that the issue will get worse as they become an adult if it’s not treated.
What is The Connection?
Obesity is related to several health problems and researchers think that its connection with hearing loss and tinnitus lies with these health issues. Poor circulation, diabetes, and high blood pressure are some of the health issues caused by obesity and linked to hearing loss.
The sensitive inner ear contains various delicate parts such as nerve cells, small capillaries, and other parts that will quit working efficiently if they aren’t kept healthy. Good blood flow is essential. High blood pressure and the constricting of blood vessels caused by obesity can impede this process.
The cochlea is a part of the inner ear that receives sound vibrations and sends them to the brain for interpretation. The cochlea can be harmed if it doesn’t receive adequate blood flow. If the cochlea is damaged, it’s usually permanent.
What Should You do?
Women who remained healthy and exercised regularly, according to a Brigham and Women’s Hospital study, had a 17% reduced likelihood of developing hearing loss versus women who didn’t. You don’t have to run a marathon to lower your risk, however. Walking for two or more hours per week resulted in a 15 percent decreased chance of hearing loss than walking for less than an hour.
Your whole family will benefit from eating better, as your diet can positively affect your hearing beyond the advantages gained from weight loss. If there is a child in your family who has some extra weight, talk with your family members and develop a routine to help them shed some pounds. You can teach them exercises that are fun for children and incorporate them into family gatherings. They might do the exercises on their own if they like them enough.
If you think you are experiencing hearing loss, speak with a hearing specialist to determine whether it is linked to your weight. Weight loss promotes better hearing and help is available. Your hearing specialist will determine your level of hearing loss and suggest the best plan of action. A regimen of exercise and diet can be recommended by your primary care physician if needed.