Air conditioning and body mass index in a group of Lebanese adolescents

Background. - The aim of this study was to explore the relation between the fact of having an air conditioner (AC) or not and body mass index in Lebanese adolescents living in the cities of Beyrouth and Jounieh. Methods. - One thousand and fifty adolescents (496 boys and 554 girls) aged 13-18 participated in this study. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the anthropometrical data. Percentages of subjects having or not an AC in their house and their bedroom as well as the average BMI of the subjects having or not an AC in their house and their bedroom were calculated from data collected using a questionnaire. Results. - In this study, 84% of the obese subjects and 74% of the normal-weighted subjects had an AC in their house. Sixty-nine percent of the obese subjects and 53% of the normal-weighted subjects had an AC in their bedroom. In the whole population, there were no differences regarding the BMI between the subjects who had or did not have an AC in their house. However, the BMI of the boys who had an AC in their bedroom was significantly higher (23.1 +/- 4.1 vs. 22.2 +/- 3.6; P < 0.01) compared to that of those who did not. Conclusion. - In the boys' group, the fact of having an AC in the bedroom had a positive influence on BMI. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.