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Obesity and Hearing Loss: Mechanisms and Future Challenges
H Gonzalo Terreros1, Felipe Munoz1, Amanda D'Espessailles Tapia1
1Laboratorio de Neurociencia Sensorial, Perceptual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, Chile.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|September 8, 2025
Summary
Obesity may independently cause hearing loss and worsen age-related hearing impairment. This review explores the molecular mechanisms linking obesity, adipose tissue dysfunction, and cochlear damage, suggesting metabolic and nutritional research approaches.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Science
- Metabolic Research
- Obesity Studies
Background:
- Emerging evidence suggests obesity impacts auditory system function.
- Limited research exists on the molecular and physiological links between obesity and hearing loss in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of obesity as a risk factor for hearing loss.
- To analyze molecular mechanisms linking obesity-related adipose tissue dysfunction to cochlear damage.
- To propose metabolic and nutritional research methodologies for studying this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing metabolic, cellular, and auditory research.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involved in obesity and hearing function.
- Synthesis of evidence on obesity's direct and indirect effects on the cochlea.
Main Results:
- Obesity is presented as an independent risk factor for hearing loss.
- Obesity can exacerbate age-related hearing loss through adipose tissue dysfunction.
- Obesity-related metabolic alterations contribute to cochlear damage.
Conclusions:
- Obesity significantly impacts hearing function through complex molecular mechanisms.
- Adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity plays a key role in auditory damage.
- Further metabolic and nutritional research is needed to fully understand and address obesity-related hearing loss.
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