The role of obesity, nutrition, and physical activity on tinnitus: A narrative review

Tinnitus is defined as the sound perceived in the head or ear without any external stimulus. Although there are many hypotheses about the etiology of tinnitus there is no generally accepted theory due to its complex physiology. Obesity and physical inactivity, which have increased as a result of radical changes in diet and lifestyle in the last century, are significantly associated with tinnitus. Therefore, low glycemic index/low carbohydrate diets and active lifestyle are becoming increasingly common among the recommendations given to individuals with tinnitus. As a result of the spread of Western-style diet, a decrease in the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods and decreased blood antioxidant status can also affect tinnitus. In this review, it was aimed to discuss the role of obesity, nutrition and physical activity on tinnitus in the light of recent research results. •Dietary and physical activity interventions alleviate tinnitus symptoms and increase the quality of life score.•The increase in body fat percentage and abdominal obesity is positively correlated with the tinnitus symptoms.•The increase in BMI is negatively correlated with the quality of life score.