New Delhi: Poor air quality is known to exacerbate respiratory, cardiac, and mental health issues, but it can also contribute to weight gain and obesity — a precursor to various diseases, warned doctors on Monday as pollution levels in Delhi worsened.
On Monday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi soared past 400 in several areas, landing in the 'severe' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Specific areas like Anand Vihar (433), Ashok Vihar (410), Rohini (411), and Vivek Vihar (426) recorded AQI levels above 400. Dwarka, Patparganj, Jahangirpuri, and Punjabi Bagh also showed 'severe' AQI readings.
Research has shown that increased exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 particles is linked to higher Body Mass Index (BMI).
Prolonged exposure to polluted air containing particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide triggers systemic inflammation and disrupts metabolic function — key contributors to weight gain and obesity. Besides damaging vital organs such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys, PM2.5 can influence metabolism rates.
Experts highlighted that poor air quality often forces people indoors, reducing physical activity levels and increasing the risk of obesity.
“People of Delhi are getting scared to go out of their homes. The outdoor activity of younger children who are in the growing phase of their lives is severely restricted due to which they engage in indoor activities such as playing games on the phone or watching television. Lack of physical exercise in this group of patients and overeating leads to the problem of obesity,” Dr (Prof) Bobby Bhalotra, Vice Chairman, Department of Respiratory Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, told IANS.
He pointed out that individuals with hypertension and diabetes face additional risks: “These patients have to do the walking as part of their treatment, and they 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 hence are gaining weight. Obesity in both of these groups of patients is mentally as physically very harmful,” he noted.
A recent meta-analysis in BMC Public Health indicated that air pollution negatively affects metabolic function by promoting inflammation in fat tissue, enhancing oxidative stress, and altering dietary habits, leading to "negative effects on glucose metabolism" and potential weight gain.
Dr Vivek Bindal, Director & Head of the Max Institute of Minimal Access, Bariatric & Robotic Surgery at Max Super Speciality Hospital, told IANS, “Different studies have proven that an increase in PM10 and PM2.5 leads to an increase in body mass index (BMI). This effect is more pronounced in adolescence, where the rise in obesity is related to increased air pollution.”
(with inputs from IANS)