Obesogensare artificial chemicals thought to cause obesity. It is found in food containers, feeding bottles, toys, plastics, cookware, and cosmetics.
When these chemicals enter the human body, they cause lubrication by disrupting its normal function. obesogen There are more than 20 chemicals defined as
What is an obesogen?
Obesogensare artificial chemicals found in food containers, cookware, and plastics. It is a subset of endocrine disrupting chemicals.
These chemicals are thought to cause weight gain. If a person is exposed to these chemicals during the developmental period, their tendency to gain weight increases throughout their life by disrupting their normal metabolic processes.
Obesogens It does not directly cause obesity, but increases the sensitivity to weight gain.
Researches, obesogensStudies show that it promotes obesity by interfering with appetite and satiety control. In other words, it changes the way the body regulates feelings of hunger and fullness.
How do obesogens work?
Obesogensare endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormones. Some endocrine disruptors activate estrogen receptors, which can cause harmful effects in both men and women.
Some common items of obesogens causes birth defects, precocious puberty in girls, sterility in boys, breast cancer and other disorders.
Most of these effects take place in the womb. For example, when pregnant women are exposed to these chemicals, their children are at increased risk of becoming obese later in life.
What Are Obesogens?
Bisphenol-A (BPA)
Bisphenol-A (BPA)It is a synthetic compound found in many products, such as feeding bottles, plastic food and beverage cans. It has been used in commercial products for many years.
The structure of BPA resembles estradiol, the most important form of the hormone estrogen. So BPA binds to estrogen receptors in the body.
The place of greatest sensitivity to BPA is in the uterus. Studies have shown that BPA exposure causes weight gain. Also The Turkish insulin resistancecauses heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, thyroid disorder.
phthalates
Phthalates are chemicals that make plastics soft and flexible. It is found in a variety of products such as food boxes, toys, beauty products, medicines, shower curtains, and paint. These chemicals leach easily from plastics. It pollutes food, water and even the air we breathe.
Like BPA, phthalates are endocrine disruptors that affect the hormonal balance in our body. It increases the sensitivity to weight gain by affecting the hormone receptors called PPARs involved in metabolism. It causes insulin resistance.
Especially men are more sensitive to these substances. Research shows that phthalate exposure leads to undescended testicles and low testosterone levels.
Atrazine
Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides. Atrazine is also an endocrine disruptor. Studies show that it is related to birth defects in humans.
It has been found to damage mitochondria, reduce metabolic rate and increase abdominal obesity in rats.
Organotins
Organotins are a class of artificial chemicals used in industry. One of them is called tributyltin (TBT).
It is used as a fungicide and applied to boats and ships to prevent the growth of marine organisms. It is used as a wood preservative and in some industrial water systems. Many lakes and coastal waters have been contaminated with tributyltin.
Tributyltin is harmful to marine organisms. Scientists think tributyltin and other organotin compounds may act as endocrine disruptors by increasing the number of fat cells.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic compound used for a variety of purposes. It is used in non-stick cookware such as Teflon.
Thyroid disorders and has been associated with various diseases such as chronic kidney disease.
In one study in mice, developmental exposure to PFOA led to lifelong increases in body weight with insulin and the hormone leptin.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are man-made chemicals used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, such as pigments in paper, plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products, and electrical equipment.
It accumulates in leaves, plants and food, enters the bodies of fish and other small organisms. They do not break down easily after entering an environment.
At Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology According to published research, PCBs are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and the development of metabolic syndrome.
How to minimize contact with obesogens?
There are many endocrine disrupting chemicals that we come into contact with. It is impossible to completely remove them from our lives, because they are everywhere. But it is possible to significantly reduce exposure:
Avoid foods and drinks stored in plastic containers.
Use stainless steel or quality aluminum water bottles instead of plastic.
Do not feed your baby with plastic bottles. Use a glass bottle instead.
Use cast iron or stainless steel instead of non-stick cookware.
Use organic, natural cosmetic ingredients.
Do not use plastics in the microwave.
Use fragrance-free products.
Do not purchase stain-resistant or flame-retardant carpets or furniture.
Eat fresh foods (fruits and vegetables) whenever possible.
