Abstract
OBJECTIVES: 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. METHODS: 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 (PM(10), PM(2.5), NO(2), BaP), for which lifetime exposure (LC(xp)) was calculated. Volume physical activity (PA), eating habits, and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O(2peak)) were analyzed as covariates. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.