Air pollution not only causes respiratory problems, but can also affect weight gain. Read on to find out how.
Cough, cold, dry eyes and eye allergies are on the rise in Delhi-NCR amid rising air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi is depleting every day. The AQI stood at 384 at 9 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Severe air quality readings between 400 and 500 affect healthy people and severely affect those with existing diseases, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Poor air quality can not only cause respiratory, heart and mental health problems, but it can also lead to weight gain and obesity, a precursor to several diseases.
According to AQI ratings, the range 0-50 is “good”, 51-100 is “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor”, and 401 is “very poor”. -300 is “bad”. 500 is “serious.”
How is air pollution related to obesity?
Different studies have shown that an increase in PM10 and PM2.5 leads to an increase in body mass index (BMI). Prolonged exposure to toxic air (consisting of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide) can lead to systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances. These factors are crucial in weight gain and obesity.
In addition to causing damage to the lungs, liver and kidneys, PM2.5 can also influence metabolism rates. Health experts noted that poor air quality can force people to stay indoors and decrease physical activity levels, leading to obesity.
“People in Delhi are afraid to come out of their homes. Outdoor activity for younger children who are in the growth phase of their lives is severely restricted, so they engage in indoor activities such as playing on the phone or watching television. Lack of physical exercise in this group of patients and overeating leads to the problem of obesity,” Dr (Professor) Bobby Bhalotra, vice-chairman, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, told IANS.
He added that patients suffering from hypertension and diabetes are also at risk of gaining weight.
“These patients have to walk as part of their treatment and are used to walking every day to burn extra calories and keep their muscles active. Due to air pollution, they are locked inside their homes and are therefore gaining weight. Obesity in both groups of patients is very harmful both physically and mentally,” Bhalotra added.
According to a recent meta-analysis published in the journal BMC Public Health, air pollution can impair metabolic function by influencing adipose tissue inflammation, increasing oxidative stress and altering individual dietary habits, with a “negative effect on the metabolism of glucose,” which leads to weight gain.
“Different studies have shown that an increase in PM 10 and PM 2.5 leads to an increase in body mass index (BMI). This effect is more pronounced in adolescence, where the increase in obesity is linked to the increase in air pollution,” Dr Vivek Bindal, director and head of the Max Institute of Minimal Access, Bariatric Surgery and Robotics, told IANS. from Max Super Specialty Hospital.
(With IANS inputs)
