The Association between Childhood Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chao Huang, Cheng Li, Fengyi Zhao, Jing Zhu, Shaokang Wang and Guiju Sun
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Chao Huang: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China
Cheng Li: Beijing Institute of Nutritional Resources, Beijing 100069, China
Fengyi Zhao: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China
Jing Zhu: Beijing Institute of Nutritional Resources, Beijing 100069, China
Shaokang Wang: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China
Guiju Sun: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic; 340 million of children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2016, and this number continues to grow at a rapid rate. Epidemiological research has suggested that air pollution affects childhood obesity and weight status, but the current evidence remains inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the effects of childhood exposure to air pollutants on weight. A total of four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were searched for publications up to December 31, 2021, and finally 15 studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Merged odds ratios (ORs), coefficients (β), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) that were related to air pollutants were estimated using a random-effects model. The meta-analysis indicated that air pollutants were correlated with childhood obesity and weight gain. For obesity, the association was considerable for PM 10 (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.18), PM 2.5 (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.45), PM 1 (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.30, 1.53), and NO 2 (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.18). Similarly, BMI status increased by 0.08 (0.03–0.12), 0.11 (0.05–0.17), and 0.03 (0.01–0.04) kg/m 2 with 10 μg/m 3 increment in exposure to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and NO 2 . In summary, air pollution can be regarded as a probable risk factor for the weight status of children and adolescents. The next step is to conduct longer-term and large-scale studies on different population subgroups, exposure concentrations, and pollutant combinations to provide detailed evidence. Meanwhile, integrated management of air pollution is essential.

Keywords: childhood; air pollution; obesity; BMI; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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