Body weight in women influenced by air pollution
A recent study found that air pollution significantly increased the weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and body fat of middle-aged women. How long-term exposure to air pollution changes the Composition of the entire female body.
professionals of University of Michigan investigated the relationship between exposure to air pollution, weight, BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, lean mass and percentage of fat mass in middle-aged women. The results are published in the English-language journal “Diabetes Care” released.
Over 1,600 middle-aged women studied
The team investigated 1,654 womenwho are part of Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation were. The women had an average age of 49.6 years and were under medical observation from 2000 to 2008.
Exposure to annual air pollution has been Linking residential addresses to hybrid estimates of air pollutant concentrations definitely, explains the team. In addition, the body measurements of the participants were recorded at the beginning of the study and recalculated annually over the course of the study.
The researchers then analyzed the connections between air pollution and body size and body composition. The team also examined whether these associations varied depending on how strong they were physical activity of the participants was.
Higher body fat percentage due to air pollution
It was shown that exposure to air pollution in middle-aged women with a higher body fat percentage was connected. In addition, this exposure also resulted in a lower lean massreports the team.
The body fat percentage of the participants increased 4.5 percentwhen exposed to air pollution. In particular, exposure to higher levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone were particularly detrimental to the women’s bodies, study author reports Xin Wang in a press release.
Protective effect of physical activity
With regard to physical activity, the study showed that a high level of physical activity is indeed an effective means of mitigating and balancing exposure to air pollution.
Because the study focused on midlife women, the results cannot be generalized to men or women in other age groups, Wang said.
Obesity continues to increase worldwide and has now become a global health problem. Certainly play an unhealthy nutrition and also lack movement important role in weight gain. But the new results show that, at least in women, another factor is the Massively affected weight and body composition – die air pollution. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Xin Wang, Carrie A. Karvonen-Gutierrez, Ellen B. Gold, Carol Derby, Gail Greendale, et al.;: Longitudinal Associations of Air Pollution With Body Size and Composition in Midlife Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation; in: Diabetes Care (veröffentlicht 09.09.2022), Diabetes Care
- University of Michigan: Air pollution tips the scale for obesity in women (veröffentlicht 13.10.2022), University of Michigan
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.