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The effect of air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems on preschoolers’ overweight and obesity

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Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity (OWO) has risen dramatically in both developed and developing countries over the past few decades, creating a huge burden of disease. Ambient air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems are important influencing factors of OWO in preschoolers, but few studies have evaluated the impact of air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems on OWO of preschoolers in rural areas and their potential interactions. This study selected 3802 preschool children from 26 kindergartens in 4 rural areas of Anhui Province for a cross-sectional study. A total of 3636 individuals were included in the final analysis. In this study, outdoor air pollutants (PM2.5 and O3) were derived from the China Air Pollution Tracking (TAP) data set, matching preschoolers’ external air pollution exposure according to their kindergarten address codes to neighborhoods or administrative villages. OWO were assessed based on WHO Child Growth and Development Standards. Generalized linear model (GLM) and interplot model were used to evaluate the separate effects and potential interactions of air pollutants and emotional and behavioral problems on preschoolers’ OWO. In the separate analysis, we found a significant positive association between air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems and OWO among preschoolers. In the interaction analysis, air pollution could enhance the positive effect of emotional and behavioral problems on OWO in preschoolers. In addition, the effect of air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems on overweight and obesity was stronger in preschoolers aged 5 to 6 years. Finally, we also found a stronger positive association between emotional and behavioral problems among girls, macrosomia, non-left-behind children, and preschoolers without eating problems. This study provided a scientific basis for the control of air pollution and overweight and obesity among preschool children in Anhui Province.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 81872704) and Interdisciplinary project of clinical and basic disciplines of Anhui Medical University (No. 2101025103).

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Author notes

  1. Wanying Su and Qiuxia Song contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China

    Wanying Su, Qiuxia Song, Ning Li, Hao Wang, Xianwei Guo, Qiwei Liang, Mingming Liang, Xiuxiu Ding & Yehuan Sun

  2. Ma’anshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.849, Jiangdong Avenue, , Ma’anshan, 243011, Anhui, China

    Qirong Qin

  3. Changfeng County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, 231199, Anhui, China

    Mingchun Chen

  4. Fuyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.19, Zhongnan Avenue, Fuyang, 236069, Anhui, China

    Liang Sun

  5. Chaohu Hospital, Anhui Medical University, No. 64 Chaohubei Road, Hefei, 238000, Anhui, China

    Xiaoqin Zhou & Yehuan Sun

  6. Center for Evidence-Based Practice, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China

    Yehuan Sun

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  1. Wanying Su
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Contributions

Wanying Su, Qiuxia Song, and Yehuan Sun collaboratively designed the study, both making substantial intellectual contributions. Wanying Su analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript together with Qiuxia Song, and Ning Li and Yehuan Sun revised the manuscript. Hao Wang, Xianwei Guo, Qiwei Liang, Mingchun Chen, and Qirong Qin contributed in collecting the data. Mingming Liang, Liang Sun, Xiaoqin Zhou, and Xiuxiu Ding contributed in interpreting the data. Wanying Su and Qiuxia Song contributed equally. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yehuan Sun.

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Su, W., Song, Q., Li, N. et al. The effect of air pollution and emotional and behavioral problems on preschoolers’ overweight and obesity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 75587–75596 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21144-7

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