While poor diet and lack of exercise are still the major contributors to the national epidemic, this new evidence suggest that air pollution can play a role.
Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health conducted the study of expecting mothers in New York, and found that those exposed to higher concentrations of airborne chemicals were more than twice as likely to have children who were obese by the age of seven.
The burning of coal, diesel, oil and gas – as well as other substances, such as tobacco – produce chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
The school’s report, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, and its lead author – Dr Andrew Rundle – said: ‘Obesity is a complex disease with multiple risk factors. It isn’t just the result of individual choices like diet and exercise.’
Dr Rundle, a professor of epidemiology, added: ‘For many people – who don’t have the resources to buy healthy food or don’t have the time to exercise – prenatal exposure to air pollution may tip the scales, making them even more susceptible to obesity.’
Researchers recruited 702 non-smoking pregnant women through prenatal clinics at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Harlem Hospital.
The women were selected between the ages of 18 and 35, and identified themselves as either African-American or Dominican. They lived in areas in Northern Manhattan or the South Bronx, which are predominantly low-income areas.
Children of women exposed to high levels of PAH during pregnancy were nearly twice as likely (1.79 times) to be obese at age five, and more than twice as likely (2.26 times) to be obese at age seven, compared with children of mothers with lower levels of exposure.
The seven-year-olds whose mothers were in the highest exposure group had, on average, 2.4lb more fat mass than children of mothers with the least exposure.
2.2 seems strong but in the absence of a clear mechanism only values of 3 or more should be accepted. For example the link between firsthand smoking and lung cancer comes out at 40, not 2.2.
Dr Andrew Rundle – said: ‘Obesity is a complex disease with multiple risk factors. It isn’t just the result of individual choices like diet and exercise.’
It’s not complex at all. Even 3rd graders know, if
you are getting fat, eat less. Duh.
Create a false crisis or an epidemic and the government must step in to save everyone. There’s lots of money to be had in piling on, too. The incessant depiction of a purported obesity epidemic using the most extreme examples is marketing, not facts. All this study showed is a weak correlation between socio-economic status, culture and BMI. Genetics are the primary determinant of human physical characteristics (not lifestyles, diets, chemical/emissions exposures, etc.) and certain minority populations and immigrants will be found located more prominently in inner cities than the subs.
Are power companies now going to be accused of causing the health ills of minorities, just like junkfood (defined as anything not all-natural, organic, local, sustainable, nonpackaged, etc…) has been?
Re: Are power companies now going to be accused of causing the health ills of minorities?
They already have been, Sandy. Refer to the Feb. 29, 2012 posting on JunkScience.com: http://junkscience.com/2012/02/29/chicagos-2-coal-fired-plants-to-close/
This draws attention away from the most likely causes. Kids setting in day care all day long watching Barney dance to a rock band, or kids in Public schools watching Obama, (Games are too dangeous! Slides and swings? Horrors!) Watch kids when they are not corralled, they run constantly. If a child is physically active in a public school they are drugged to slow them down, like residents of a shoddy nursing home. Also stressed out parents that do not get off work in time to prepare a balanced meal pick up junk food for supper. While an occasional meal of junk food is harmless, it was never intended to be a steady diet.