Contents:
- Medical Video: The Dangerous Chemicals In Your Plastic Packages
- Artificial chemicals can make obesity
- So, what artificial chemicals are included in obesogen?
- 1. Bisphenol-A (BPA)
- 2. Phthalates
- 3. Atrazine
- 4. Organotin
- 5. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Medical Video: The Dangerous Chemicals In Your Plastic Packages
Some food containers, drinking bottles, baby bottles, toys, plastic, cooking utensils and cosmetics that contain artificial chemicals are certainly not good for health. However, not only that, it turns out the content of artificial chemicals can be a cause of fat. Is it true? See the facts here.
Artificial chemicals can make obesity
Artificial chemicals that are believed to be fat causes are called obesogen. When these chemicals enter your body, they interfere with the body's normal function and increase fat in the body. Obesogens are a category of endocrine disruptors or include chemicals that can interfere with your hormones.
Some endocrine disrupters exert their effects by activating estrogen receptors, which can cause harmful effects on women and men. Estrogen receptors are thought to bind anything that looks even like estrogen.
Some obesogens are not only associated with obesity or obesity, but also birth defects, early puberty in girls, demasculinization in men, breast cancer and other disorders.
Unfortunately, many of these effects occur in the womb. For example, when pregnant women are exposed to these chemicals, it can increase the risk of children becoming fat later on.
So, what artificial chemicals are included in obesogen?
More than 20 chemicals have been identified as obesogen. Here are five artificial chemicals that are often found in home appliances, which include obesogen.
1. Bisphenol-A (BPA)
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a synthetic compound found in many types of products, including baby bottles, plastic food and beverage containers, and metal food cans.
The structure of BPA resembles estradiol, which is the most important form of the female sex hormone estrogen. As a result, BPA binds to estrogen receptors in the body. Several studies have linked BPA exposure to weight gain and obesity, both in laboratory animals and humans.
Not only being a cause of fat, BPA is also said to cause insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, genital malformations and much more.
Meanwhile, food exposure to BPA in low amounts in food has not been proven to cause harm, including influencing human development in the womb.
2. Phthalates
Phthalates are artificial chemicals used to make soft and flexible plastics. Usually found in various products, including food containers, toys, beauty products, medicines, and paint. These chemicals can easily get out of plastic and contaminate food, water supplies and even the air you breathe.
A Swedish study found that children can absorb these artificial chemicals from plastic floor material through the skin and respiratory tract.
Like BPA, phthalates are endocrine disruptors that affect the hormonal balance in the body which can then be a cause of fat.
Phthalates may play a role in increasing susceptibility to weight gain by influencing hormone receptors called PPARs, which are involved in metabolism.
Human studies have shown that phthalate levels in the body are associated with obesity, increased waist circumference, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
This study shows that exposure to these artificial chemicals in the uterus leads to genital malformations in boys, the testes do not go down and testosterone levels are low.
3. Atrazine
Atrazine is one of the commonly used herbicides, but its use can contaminate groundwater. Therefore, in some countries, the use of these artificial chemicals has been banned.
Atrazine is also an endocrine disruptor and several studies have shown that exposure to artificial chemicals is associated with birth defects in humans.
Some animal studies report that exposure to artificial chemicals can increase the risk of obesity, reduce metabolic rates and increase body weight in mice. However, further research is still needed to prove this to humans.
4. Organotin
Organotin is an artificial chemical used for various industrial purposes.
One of them is called tributyltin (TBT). These artificial chemicals are used as fungicides and are applied to ships to prevent the growth of marine organisms on the ship's body. It is also used in wood preservatives and some industrial water systems. Many lakes and tributyltin polluted coastal waters.
Tributiltin is dangerous for marine organisms and has been banned by various authorities.
Some researchers report that tributyltin and other organotin compounds can function as endocrine disruptors and play a role in increasing obesity in humans by increasing the number of fat cells.
One study reported that tributyltin can cause rapid growth of fat cells and reduce leptin production.
Other studies conducted in mice have shown that exposure to these artificial chemicals for 45 days can cause weight gain and fatty liver disease (fatty liver disease).
5. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can inhibit the body's metabolism and thus damage the diet cycle to maintain a decrease in body weight. An assistant lecturer in nutrition science at the Harvard School of Public Health reports that people who have high levels of artificial chemicals are more difficult to maintain weight loss after a diet. This pattern occurs mainly in women.
These artificial chemicals are usually used to clean oily surfaces, as cleaning agents, and for nonstick cookware.
Other studies have also shown a link between PFAS exposure and weight gain and obesity in animals. These artificial chemicals are also associated with cancer, hormonal and immune disorders, and high cholesterol.
From several studies concluded that women are more vulnerable to its effects, because these chemicals can affect the hormone estrogen which plays a role in regulating metabolism and weight.
