# Opposite Association Between Wet‐Bulb Globe Temperature With Central Obesity in Different Geographic Regions in Taiwan

## TL;DR

The study finds that heat stress, measured by WBGT, has opposite effects on central obesity in different regions of Taiwan.

## Contribution

This study reveals regional differences in the association between heat stress and central obesity in subtropical and tropical areas.

## Key findings

- In central Taiwan, higher midday WBGT is linked to increased central obesity.
- In southern Taiwan, higher WBGT is associated with decreased central obesity.
- Northern and eastern Taiwan show no significant WBGT-obesity association.

## Abstract

Despite the known effects of global warming and rising ambient temperatures, the potential influence of environmental heat stress on central obesity remains underexplored, particularly in subtropical and tropical regions such as Taiwan. This study investigates the association between wet‐bulb globe temperature (WBGT) with central obesity across the main island of Taiwan.

Using data from 120,424 participants in the Taiwan Biobank, central obesity was assessed via waist circumference (WC), with central obesity defined as WC ≥ 80/90 cm in women/men. WBGT exposure data were derived using high‐resolution spatial‐temporal models. The analysis examined WBGT values during two time periods: work (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) and midday (11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.).

In central Taiwan, each 1°C increase in average midday period WBGT was significantly associated with a high prevalence of central obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.048, p = 0.009), whereas each 1°C rise in both midday and work period WBGT in southern Taiwan was significantly associated with a low prevalence of central obesity (OR: 0.929, p < 0.001, and 0.954, p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant associations were observed between central obesity with WBGT in northern or eastern Taiwan.

There are significant regional disparities in the association between WBGT with central obesity in Taiwan, emphasizing the need for tailored public health strategies and climate‐adaptive interventions to mitigate the risk of obesity across different environments.