So this latest Newsweek item examines the link between childhood obesity (specifically, the increasing rate of overweight and obese infants in the U.S.) and exposure to trace environmental chemicals in utero and during the first years of life.
It appears as though certain hormone-mimicking chemicals found in paints, plastics and other products have the ability to act on cell receptors called PPAR GAMMAs and to switch them from being "precursor" cells (cells which have the potential to develop in any way) to being fat cells. Baby mice exposed in the lab to doses of these chemicals comparable to amounts encountered by humans developed, on average, 36% more body fat than mice left unexposed, despite identical diets and levels of exercise between the two groups. These particular chemicals also seem to have the ability to disrupt and slow metabolic processes which would normally allow the body to burn calories more efficiently, leading one researcher to dub them "obesogens."
According to the article, the incidence of obesity caused by such factors is most prevalent in those under the age of fifty -- not surprising given increased environmental pollution with these agents since the 1960s.
I thought it an interesting read for those who like to stay abreast of the latest scientific research in the field of obesity.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/215179
It appears as though certain hormone-mimicking chemicals found in paints, plastics and other products have the ability to act on cell receptors called PPAR GAMMAs and to switch them from being "precursor" cells (cells which have the potential to develop in any way) to being fat cells. Baby mice exposed in the lab to doses of these chemicals comparable to amounts encountered by humans developed, on average, 36% more body fat than mice left unexposed, despite identical diets and levels of exercise between the two groups. These particular chemicals also seem to have the ability to disrupt and slow metabolic processes which would normally allow the body to burn calories more efficiently, leading one researcher to dub them "obesogens."
According to the article, the incidence of obesity caused by such factors is most prevalent in those under the age of fifty -- not surprising given increased environmental pollution with these agents since the 1960s.
I thought it an interesting read for those who like to stay abreast of the latest scientific research in the field of obesity.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/215179
