A recent study has found a link between tinnitus in men and body fat—particularly in the trunk area, challenging traditional views on the condition’s risk factors. After controlling for age and average hearing ability, male participants with tinnitus (both acute and chronic) exhibited higher total body fat percentages, particularly in the arms, trunk, and legs, as well as larger waist circumferences. Those with chronic tinnitus showed significantly higher levels of trunk fat, greater waist size, and less leg muscle mass.
This association was not observed in female participants. Using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, researchers defined obesity as 25 percent body fat for men and 35 percent for women. The study concluded that body composition was “significantly” associated with tinnitus in males, with central obesity linked to chronic tinnitus.
According to the authors, assessing central obesity risk could also enhance early detection and mitigation of cardiovascular risks in men with the condition. Tinnitus was more common in men (about 12 percent) than women (about 7 percent). High blood pressure was more common in people with tinnitus (about 37 percent) than those without (about 29 percent).
Half of the people with tinnitus experienced dizziness compared to only a third of those without it. There was no significant difference in diabetes rates between the two groups. People with tinnitus scored higher on tests for depression and anxiety.
Causes range from excess caffeine or salt intake to brain tumors, Suzanne Finkel, an audiologist and professor at Sacred Heart University, told The Epoch Times. Subjective : most common; sounds only heard by the affected individual Objective : rare; detectable during ear examinations Pulsatile : produces a rhythmic sound matching a heartbeat An audiologist can be instrumental in treating associated hearing loss and providing coping strategies, Finkel added. Sound therapy helps patients relax and sleep by masking tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) refocuses negative emotions associated with tinnitus. Progressive Tinnitus Management, a Veterans Affairs-developed program, combines sound therapy, CBT, and education for personalized management plans..
