Obesity and diabetes are among most common diseases around the world and studies and experiments so far have come up with various causes linked to both. One such study conducted recently in Beijing blamed polluted air for causing metabolic dysfunctional in rats that in return caused obesity in them. The research was conducted by scientists at Duke University. The finding of the study was published in the FASEB Journal.

The researchers used two groups of lab rats. One of the groups was exposed to highly polluted air of Beijing for 19 days, while other wasn’t. The study discovered that exposed rats developed 50% higher cholesterol levels, 46% higher triglycerides and 97% higher total cholesterol, along with higher insulin resistance level. They even gained more weight than earlier and higher to the group of rats unexposed to polluted air; the female rats weighed 10% higher, while the proportion for male rate was 18%.

“Since chronic inflammation is recognized as a factor contributing to obesity and since metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are closely related, our findings provide clear evidence that chronic exposure to air pollution increases the risk for developing obesity”, said Junfeng Zhang, a professor of global and environmental health at Duke University.

There are other health concerns linked to unhealthy air in addition to obesity. The people living in smog-filled cities suffer from health issues such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and eye, nose, and throat inflammation. The contaminated air even because death by developing respiratory complication over time. Some other troubles could be lung cancer, low birth rates and birth defects.