Obesogens

There has been a 73 percent increase of obesity in infants under 6 months of age since 1980. Endocrinologists point out that these infants are not drinking sugar laden soda pop and fat drenched potato chips. They are simply consuming breast milk and formula.

The culprit appears to be estrogen hormone-mimicking pollutants. Experiments with bisphenol A, a building block of hard, polycarbonate plastic caused cells that normally become connective tissue to become fat cells. Low doses of xenoextrogens, as these compounds are called, can cause mice to become 20 percent heavier and carry 36% more body fat.

This research is significant in the study of diabetes because not only is weight gain associated with greater diabetic risk, but an overload of estrogen is believed by some to increase the risk of diabetes or worsen the condition.

Article on Obesogens

Article on Bisphenol A