When we think about factors that contribute to our body composition we often consider diet, exercise, medical conditions, and genetics - most of us would not have included air pollution in that calculation. However, in a recent study by the University of Michigan researchers found a connection between air pollution and high body fat percentage.

In a study conducted on middle-aged women over an 8-year period, researchers found that participants with greater exposure to air pollution were more likely to have increased fat mass. While this connection seems somewhat surprising, we did already know that environmental factors, including climate and air pollution, impact both our resting metabolic rate and our VO2 max.

So how can we combat this environmental factor?

Air pollution is tough to avoid unless we move to a cleaner, less populated part of the country (or world). For many of us, relocating to a remote town in Idaho is not a possibility in the near future, but we need not despair. The study found that participants who exercised regularly were able to maintain healthy levels of body fat, despite increased exposure to air pollution. All the better reason not to miss our yoga class today.

Want to read the study? Click here.

Want to check your body composition? Click here to find a location near you.