Zilong Zhang1, Bin Dong2, Gongbo Chen3, Yi Song2, Shanshan Li4, Zhaogeng Yang2, Yanhui Dong2, Zhenghe Wang2, Jun Ma5, Yuming Guo6. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada; Populations and Public Health Research Program, ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada. 2. Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China. 3. Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. 5. Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: majunt@bjmu.edu.cn. 6. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: yuming.guo@monash.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors such as air pollution may contribute to the development of childhood obesity. However, current epidemiological evidence is limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations between long-term air pollution exposure and obesity in a large population of Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 44,718 children and adolescents (50.5% boys) aged 7 to 18 years were recruited from seven provinces/municipalities in China. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the prevalence of general and central obesity were measured. Satellite-based spatial-temporal models were used to estimate ambient concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 1.0 μm (PM1), <2.5 μm (PM2.5), <10.0 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We used mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to examine the associations between air pollution exposure and body weight measures. RESULTS: Exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 was associated with increased BMI Z-score, waist circumference and WHtR, and higher prevalence of both general and central obesity. Generally, stronger associations were observed for particles, especially PM1 and PM2.5, than for NO2. Also, the associations of particles were generally more stable in two-pollutant models. Overall, the associations were more pronounced in boys than in girls except for general obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased body weight and higher prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents, suggesting potential obesogenic effects of air pollution.
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors such as air pollution may contribute to the development of childhood obesity. However, current epidemiological evidence is limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations between long-term air pollution exposure and obesity in a large population of Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 44,718 children and adolescents (50.5% boys) aged 7 to 18 years were recruited from seven provinces/municipalities in China. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the prevalence of general and central obesity were measured. Satellite-based spatial-temporal models were used to estimate ambient concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 1.0 μm (PM1), <2.5 μm (PM2.5), <10.0 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We used mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to examine the associations between air pollution exposure and body weight measures. RESULTS: Exposure to PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 was associated with increased BMI Z-score, waist circumference and WHtR, and higher prevalence of both general and central obesity. Generally, stronger associations were observed for particles, especially PM1 and PM2.5, than for NO2. Also, the associations of particles were generally more stable in two-pollutant models. Overall, the associations were more pronounced in boys than in girls except for general obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased body weight and higher prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents, suggesting potential obesogenic effects of air pollution.
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