Association of Air Pollution With Adiposity Rates in Active Runners and Inactive People

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the association between long-term air pollution (AP) exposure and adiposity, primarily visceral fat and secondary body fat in runners and inactive participants.

This study included 945 individuals (male n = 505 and female n = 440). These included both active (runners: run ≥ 10 km/week) and inactive (did not follow the WHO 2020 PA recommendations) individuals. Dependent variables were body composition parameters fat mass index (FMI) and visceral fat (VFA), measured using dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A Hologic QDR (Horizon) bone densitometer was used for the measurement. Independent variables were AP values (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, BaP), for which lifetime exposure (LC_xp) was calculated. Volume physical activity (PA), eating habits, and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O_2peak) were analyzed as covariates.

The results showed that long-term exposure to AP was not associated with increased adiposity (p > 0.05). However, age (p = 0.000), sex (p = 0.000), and V̇O_2peak (p = 0.000) were associated with VFA. Values for VFA increased with age, males had higher VFA than females, and VFA values decreased with increasing V̇O_2peak (p < 0.05) values. Furthermore, higher V̇O_2peak values were strongly associated with lower FMI (p = 0.000).

Adiposity was not associated with AP in the studied population. Adiposity was affected mainly by lifestyle and associated cardiorespiratory fitness presented by V̇O_2peak values.