Worried about weight gain? Middle-aged women must blame long-term exposure to air pollution

Did you know India is the second-most polluted country in the world?

More than 63 per cent of India's 1.3 billion population is living in areas that exceed the World Health Organization's recommended air quality guidelines, according to the data collected by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) data also showed that the 61.4 per cent increase in the particulate matter has led to a reduction in average life expectancy of 2.1 years.


Exposure to pollution can result in a number of ailments such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases, among other conditions. Constant exposure to pollution can worsen the condition of the lungs and reduce their capacity. It is also responsible for premature mortality.

Recently, a new study showed that long-term air pollution can increase the weight, body mass index (BMI), and circumference of the waist and body fat in middle-aged women.

A team of researchers from the University of Michigan have found a link between exposure to air pollution and higher body fat, higher proportion fat and lower lean mass among women in their late 40s and early 50s. The problem was evident in women who were exposed to higher levels of fine particles (fine particulate matter 2.5 - PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide and ozone.

The harmful PM2.5 can penetrate deep into lung pathways and enter the bloodstream, gaining access to any organ. In short, constant exposure to air pollutants can cause multiple health hazards, especially over a long duration.

The adverse effects of air pollution include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
• Coughing
• Chest tightness
• Respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses
• Damage to the lung cells
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Increased stress on lungs, heart and other organs to supply oxygen
• Congestive heart failure

For the research, the data was collected from 1,654 Caucasian, Black, Chinese, and Japanese women from the 'Study of Women's Health Across the Nation' between 2000 and 2008. These participants had a median age of nearly 50 years.

Published in Diabetes Care journal, the study found a 4.5 per cent increase (around 1.18 kg) in body fat of the female participants.

More people are vulnerable to the risks of obesity, one of the world's major global health concerns, due to their poor eating habits and inactive lifestyle.

According to the study, increasing the level of physical activity can mitigate the ill-effects of air pollution exposure.

Keep yourself safe from air pollution:

• Stay indoors as much as possible
• Wear N95 masks instead of cloth ones when stepping out
• Workout indoors
• Avoid exercising outdoors, especially in the mornings when the smog level is the highest
• Avoid burning items as fine particles from smoke are equally bad
• Use air purifiers at home, and monitor the filters at regular intervals
• Keep air-purifying indoor plants
• Don’t smoke indoors
• Quit smoking
• Stay hydrated
• Have immunity-boosting fruits, vegetables and legumes