As per WHO, 1 out of 8 people are living with obesity. According to them, 2.5 billion adults are overweight as of 2022 and Every year around 2.8 million people are losing their lives because of it. It is a major concern because being overweight can result in severe health conditions. But do you know air pollution can be the reason for your fat? Yes, some studies have found that air pollution and obesity are linked. Till now everyone has heard that air pollution exposure causes breathing problems or lung issues. But now air pollution makes you overweight.
Being overweight is just getting more body mass because it can be dangerous. If you are overweight, you have a high chance of losing your life years. Many factors are responsible for making you overweight. And air pollution can be one of these reasons. Here check how air pollution affects body weight, what to do in high pollution levels, and how to live a healthy life.
The major reasons for being fat are many as genetic, overeating, unhealthy diet and no physical activity. But here is one more neglected reason for you being fat— air pollution. Yes! Air pollution makes you overweight! But how? Air pollution is not just limited to lung or breathing problems. Because air pollution can also make you fat. Here is how air pollution affects body weight!
Firstly let us know about obesity and how it can affect your life.
Your chances of becoming overweight depend on your exposure to air pollution. Because people in highly polluted locations have a high chance of becoming overweight. Air pollution levels in cities like Delhi can result in obesity in many people. Long-term exposure to air pollution increases your chances of gaining weight. Because it puts residents at higher risk of inflammation and body changes.
Gaining a little weight is normal but gaining kilos is not normal because obesity is a chronic disease. If your body mass index (BMI) is crossing 30, you are overweight. According to experts, obesity increases the chances of life-threatening diseases. You are at high risk of developing heart disease, strokes, diabetes etc. Not just health issues, being fat can cause depression and mental health conditions as well.
What is the connection between air pollution and obesity?
Air pollution and obesity are related because high pollution exposure results in various problems and gaining weight is one of them. It happens because harmful air pollutants alter the body mechanism of the person. Why does air pollution increase my body weight? It happens due to inflammation in the body because of toxic pollutants in the air. Here know how air pollution makes you gain weight.
I. Pollutants and metabolism
Particulate matter such as PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 are the major pollutants. The study shows that air pollution exposure can slow down the metabolism of the body’s metabolism, lead to less food digestion and convert it into fat. Moreover, air pollution exposure also leads to a reduction in exercise and physical activities. Besides, it can also increase the calorie intake which leads to weight gain.
II. Body hormone disruptors:
Many air pollutants like PM2.5 and other harmful gases in the air can disturb the body’s hormones. These are known as endocrine-disruption chemicals (EDCs). Body hormones that help in regulating metabolism, appetite and fat storage can be affected because of EDC chemicals exposure.
III. Inflammation:
The human body reacts to the long-term air pollution exposure to PM2.5 the most. Because it triggers the chronic inflammation in the human body. And that inflammation makes changes to insulin sensitivity and leads to metabolic issues. As a result, the person with more exposure faces metabolic issues and increases fat storage in the body.
IV. Lack of Physical activities:
Outdoor pollution affects the routine of people’s physical activities as working out in high pollution levels can be harmful. A lack of physical activities and no body movement increases the fat stored in the human body. Days without any physical activities can result in weight gain and obesity.
V. More stress and appetite changes:
Many reports have claimed that air pollution exposure leads to inflammation and high stress levels. It can affect the body hormones that regulate the appetite in the body such as cortisol and ghrelin. Today, high cortisol levels are the major condition for many people facing different problems. It also results in more cravings for high-calorie foods and results in weight gain and poor sleep.
How to protect yourself from becoming fat or reduce weight to become healthy in high pollution?
Living with air pollution is challenging and results in many health conditions. And here a new study has found air pollution and obesity are linked. It means living healthy is becoming a dream for many people. Here are some steps you can take to live healthily in highly polluted areas and also reduce weight just by following some simple steps:
1. Know what you are breathing and protect yourself:
The first and simple step is to check the air quality index (AQI) or levels of your area. It will help you in knowing what you are breathing. Through it, you can take action to protect yourself during high pollution hours. Moreover, indoor air is much more polluted than outdoor so also check indoor air quality with a monitor.
2. Go for an air purifier for better indoor air:
Make the indoor air clean and breathable as it can hold more pollutants than outdoor. For it, you can install the advanced air purifiers indoors. It helps in reducing the harmful indoor pollutants. You can go for the purifier with advanced filters such as HEPA to remove harmful pollutants.
3. Make your diet filled with superfoods:
Air pollution exposure and unhealthy eating habits increase your chances of becoming fat. Thus, include superfoods in your healthy diet. For it, choose certain foods that can make inflammation better such as antioxidant-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, fresh fruits, stay hydrated etc.
4. Don’t skip exercising but only indoors:
High air pollution and obesity are highly linked when you don’t exercise or work out. Because outdoor pollution levels require you to stay inside. Try regular physical activities indoors and never skip indoor workouts. Or if you want to be active outside, check air quality before going out.
5. Take care of your stress level:
Air pollution exposure also affects the stress level of a person. And high-stress levels can result in weight gain. It makes air pollution and obesity linked to each other. But you can manage it with stress-relieving techniques. For it, try yoga, meditation or try to stay happy to control cortisol levels.
So, air pollution not just affects your lungs or heart, it can also make you fat. The mentioned research reveals how air pollution and obesity are linked and can result in various other problems. Remember, you can control your health and stay healthy just by taking some right steps. Make your life healthy and lifeful with a normal weight.
