THE LINK BETWEEN AIR POLLUTION AND OBESITY

It’s bad for your lungs, skin, and longevity. Now, it turns out, air pollution is also crap for your physique. A new study from the University of Colorado, Boulder, found people who live in areas of heavy ozone pollution are more likely to develop a poor mix of gut bacteria (aka “microbiome”)—one that’s associated with a high risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. While you may not be able to change where you live, monitor the air quality in your town (learn more at airnow.gov), avoid exercising on major roads or highways, and head out early in the morning or in the evening to dodge peak pollution hours (midday and rush hour).