Exposure to smoking and childhood obesity: proven links

Childhood obesity has become increasingly common. According to the National Federation Against Obesity, 250 million children will be obese by 2030. This is a very worrying figure considering that this condition can lead to type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and even mental health problems. A recent study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the University of Southern California (USC) listed the environmental factors linked to childhood obesity. Exposure to tobacco is one of them.

A comprehensive study of environmental influences

In this study, the results of which were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the researchers sought to understand the impact of environmental influences on human health, from the moment of conception. The study followed 1,300 children aged 6 to 11, as well as their mothers, living in six different European countries: France, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. It took into account 173 factors—77 in utero and 96 during childhood: air pollutants, access to green spaces, exposure to tobacco smoke, etc.

The impact of smoking

According to the study, "Exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy, childhood exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants, passive exposure to childhood smoke, childhood residence in more densely populated areas, and school attendance in regions with fewer facilities were associated with increased offspring BMI. Children's blood levels of copper and cesium were also associated with higher BMI." This is the first time these exposures have been studied simultaneously. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was the most significant association with high offspring BMI (body mass index) and was also the only prenatal factor with a significant association. Secondhand smoke can also lead to high BMI. Environmental exposure must therefore be taken into account to effectively combat certain pathologies. Today, smoking during pregnancy and passive smoking from secondhand and thirdhand smoke are still widespread.