Qian Guo1, Tao Xue2, Chunrong Jia3, Beibei Wang1, Suzhen Cao1, Xiuge Zhao4, Qian Zhang5, Liyun Zhao5, Junfeng Jim Zhang6, Xiaoli Duan7. 1. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. 2. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. 3. School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. 4. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. 5. National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China. 6. Nicholas School of the Environment and Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215316, China. 7. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: jasmine@ustb.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a global health issue, and limited evidence suggests that air pollution may be a contributing factor. This study aims to examine whether exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with obesity status in a nationally representative sample of schoolchildren in China. METHODS: The study population consisted of 41,439 schoolchildren of 6-17 years old, recruited from 30 provinces in China using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Weights and heights were measured for all the participants, and sociodemographic information was collected using a questionnaire. The obesity status was classified following the Chinese national standards. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated as the 5-year average concentration at the school location for each participant. The association between obesity status and PM2.5 exposure was examined using weighted logistic regressions adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 78.5%, 12.4%, and 9.0%, respectively. PM2.5 exposure averaged 59.8 ± 17.6 μg/m3 with a range of 30.5-115.2 μg/m3 among all the participants. The risk of obesity increased by 10.0% (95% confidence interval: 3.0-16.0%) per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure. The PM2.5-associated risk was significantly elevated in older age groups and children living in urban areas (interaction p-values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This national survey revealed that approximately 1 in 5 Chinese schoolchildren were overweight or obese. Exposure to PM2.5 in the ambient air was significantly associated with childhood obesity. The findings suggest the need for further research to uncover the roles of PM2.5 exposure in childhood obesity development.
BACKGROUND:Childhood obesity is a global health issue, and limited evidence suggests that air pollution may be a contributing factor. This study aims to examine whether exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with obesity status in a nationally representative sample of schoolchildren in China. METHODS: The study population consisted of 41,439 schoolchildren of 6-17 years old, recruited from 30 provinces in China using a multi-stage stratified sampling method. Weights and heights were measured for all the participants, and sociodemographic information was collected using a questionnaire. The obesity status was classified following the Chinese national standards. The PM2.5 exposure was estimated as the 5-year average concentration at the school location for each participant. The association between obesity status and PM2.5 exposure was examined using weighted logistic regressions adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: The prevalence of normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 78.5%, 12.4%, and 9.0%, respectively. PM2.5 exposure averaged 59.8 ± 17.6 μg/m3 with a range of 30.5-115.2 μg/m3 among all the participants. The risk of obesity increased by 10.0% (95% confidence interval: 3.0-16.0%) per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure. The PM2.5-associated risk was significantly elevated in older age groups and children living in urban areas (interaction p-values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This national survey revealed that approximately 1 in 5 Chinese schoolchildren were overweight or obese. Exposure to PM2.5 in the ambient air was significantly associated with childhood obesity. The findings suggest the need for further research to uncover the roles of PM2.5 exposure in childhood obesity development.
Authors: Jerrold J Heindel; Sarah Howard; Keren Agay-Shay; Juan P Arrebola; Karine Audouze; Patrick J Babin; Robert Barouki; Amita Bansal; Etienne Blanc; Matthew C Cave; Saurabh Chatterjee; Nicolas Chevalier; Mahua Choudhury; David Collier; Lisa Connolly; Xavier Coumoul; Gabriella Garruti; Michael Gilbertson; Lori A Hoepner; Alison C Holloway; George Howell; Christopher D Kassotis; Mathew K Kay; Min Ji Kim; Dominique Lagadic-Gossmann; Sophie Langouet; Antoine Legrand; Zhuorui Li; Helene Le Mentec; Lars Lind; P Monica Lind; Robert H Lustig; Corinne Martin-Chouly; Vesna Munic Kos; Normand Podechard; Troy A Roepke; Robert M Sargis; Anne Starling; Craig R Tomlinson; Charbel Touma; Jan Vondracek; Frederick Vom Saal; Bruce Blumberg Journal: Biochem Pharmacol Date: 2022-04-05 Impact factor: 6.100
Authors: Chao Huang; Cheng Li; Fengyi Zhao; Jing Zhu; Shaokang Wang; Guiju Sun Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-08 Impact factor: 4.614