Association between air pollution and adolescent obesity: an ecological study.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to assess the association between exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and adolescent obesity, and to identify and visualize the world areas where the problems of adolescent obesity and air pollution by fine PM are more severe.

METHODS: An ecological study, based on publicly available data from a WHO site.

RESULTS: For each increase in air pollution there was an increase in the probability of being in the higher prevalence obesity group (OR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.06-1.31)). High prevalence rates for both adolescent obesity and air pollution by PM2.5 were identified in several countries, including Venezuela, Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oceania islands.

CONCLUSIONS: Efforts by local authorities and world organizations should be focused on the countries with the highest prevalence rates for both conditions.