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researchers say poor diet and lack of exercise are not the only culprits of obesity. BPA can share some of the blame.
In the latest study on bisphenol plastic additive A, or BPA, scientists have found that children harboring higher levels of endocrine disrupting chemical in their bodies were more likely to be obese compared to youth with low levels of BPA.
The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association The question of the theme of "obesity, was led by Dr. Leonardo Trasande, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine environmental at New York University School of Medicine. 2008. Approximately 34% of children were overweight and 18% were obese.
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Those in the highest quartile of exposure to BPA also had the highest rate of obesity at 22.3%, while those with the lowest levels of the chemical in their urine were the least likely to be obese at 10%. For more than a doubling of the risk of obesity among people with BPA exposure is greater.
"It is a very strong association, surprisingly strong," said Trasande, "and it cuts across all socio-economic strata. Poor diet and lack of physical activity are the main contributors to childhood obesity in the United States, but this study shows that we need to consider environmental factors such third major contributing factor to the epidemic. "
BPA is ubiquitous in our environment, mainly found in plastics used in food packaging and aluminum can linings and is also found in dental fillings and sealants and coatings received heat used in shops. a government study found that 93% of more than 6 years Americans have some detectable amount of BPA in their urine, according to a comprehensive 2007 study in preschoolers in North Carolina and Ohio, about 99% of children's exposure to BPA comes from food. That's why concerns over BPA leaching plastics in baby bottles and sippy cups led the Food and Drug Administration to ban the product chemical these products earlier this year. the agency stopped to eliminate BPA from cans and other food packaging, however, citing the lack of definitive evidence of its health harms. (In 2010, Canada not only banned BPA in baby bottles, but also took the further step of declaring toxic chemicals to human health, which are resting easier to remove the chemical from other food contact products)
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Trasande said the current findings call question this decision because it establishes a potential metabolic link between exposure to chemicals and obesity, which can lead to a host of chronic diseases, heart disease, diabetes and asthma. But while the study establishes a link between the two, it does not specify in which direction the relationship work. It is possible, for example, that instead of BPA exposure contributing to obesity, it may be that obese children are simply consume more foods rich in BPA, like sodas, canned or microwaveable products. But Trasande said that this scenario is less likely, since he and his colleagues saw the strong correlation between BPA and obesity among children who consumed more than the average number of calories each day or less. The connection also remained strong after the researchers adjusted for the amount of young people watching television.
The other explanation is that exposure to the chemical, which has been shown to disrupt hormone levels, interferes somehow still developing the capacity of the young body to compensate for the calories come with those that are burned, which leads to an imbalance that promotes weight gain. [In addition to the risk of obesity] we know at least one study in which BPA is associated with effects on brain development. And BPA may also affect the development of a child's lung "
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Interestingly. the association between BPA and obesity is highest among whites than in other racial or ethnic group. Since the NHANES data revealed no significant difference in how participants ate, the researchers think there may be some difference in the genetic makes Caucasian populations more vulnerable to chemicals
Although BPA has a half-life of around 4 to 43 hours. - which means that half of any amount ingested is eliminated from the body within that time - recent studies are showing that if the chemical is pulled in adipose tissue, it can not be removed as quickly people who fasted longer. that this time continue to harbor high levels of BPA.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that BPA exposure may be an important factor to obesity in children, and potentially put them at higher risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, problems heart and liver failure. adults among studies have linked higher urinary concentrations of BPA with these conditions. "This study suggests that we need to reconsider the recent choice not to ban BPA in cans," said Trasande, especially that there are alternatives to safer boxes.
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Alice Park is a writer at TIME Find her on Twitter at @aliceparkny you can continue.. the discussion on TIME's Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.
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