Background: Traffic noise has been associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Potential modes of action are through stress and sleep disturbance, which may lead to endocrine dysregulation and overweight.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the relationship between residential traffic and railway noise and adiposity.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 57,053 middle-aged people, height, weight, waist circumference, and bioelectrical impedance were measured at enrollment (1993–1997). Body mass index (BMI), body fat mass index (BFMI), and lean body mass index (LBMI) were calculated. Residential exposure to road and railway traffic noise exposure was calculated using the Nordic prediction method. Associations between traffic noise and anthropometric measures at enrollment were analyzed using general linear models and logistic regression adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors.

Results: Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic factors showed that 5-year mean road traffic noise exposure preceding enrollment was associated with a 0.35-cm wider waist circumference (95% CI: 0.21, 0.50) and a 0.18-point higher BMI (95% CI: 0.12, 0.23) per 10 dB. Small, significant increases were also found for BFMI and LBMI. All associations followed linear exposure–response relationships. Exposure to railway noise was not linearly associated with adiposity measures. However, exposure > 60 dB was associated with a 0.71-cm wider waist circumference (95% CI: 0.23, 1.19) and a 0.19-point higher BMI (95% CI: 0.0072, 0.37) compared with unexposed participants (0–20 dB).

Conclusions: The present study finds positive associations between residential exposure to road traffic and railway noise and adiposity.

Citation: Christensen JS, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Tjønneland A, Overvad K, Nordsborg RB, Ketzel M, Sørensen TI, Sørensen M. 2016. Road traffic and railway noise exposures and adiposity in adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health cohort. Environ Health Perspect 124:329–335; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409052

Address correspondence to J.S. Christensen, Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Telephone: 45 35257926. E-mail: jeppe0311@gmail.com , jesscc@cancer.dk

N. Martinussen assisted with programming and data management and is acknowledged for his work.

The European Research Council, EU 7th Research Framework Programme funded this study (grant 281760).

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Received: 7 August 2014 Accepted: 29 July 2015 Advance Publication: 4 August 2015 Final Publication: 1 March 2016

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