Obesity has become a global health issue. A recent study has found that “obesogen”, a substance found in household plastics, dust, packaging, and furniture, can build up fat in the body.
The study claimed that removing shoes before entering house to keep away contaminants like dust and removing carpets at home can help people stay slim.
Also, the study also suggested that reducing the amount of plastics in home, avoiding use of cleaning products, vacuuming, and purchasing processed products will help you keep away from obesogens.
Findings of the Study
The study author Ana Catarina Sousa said that obesogens is found everywhere. The main source of diet is the main source of exposure. Some artificial sweeteners and pesticides are found to be obesogens. She further adds that this chemical is found in home products and plastics. So, completely avoiding it is very difficult but we can reduce it up to some extent.
Obesogens is a chemical that gets inside our body and alters the process of fat deposition. It changes our cells in 2 ways. It causes fat deposition as it can increase the number of fat cell. Thus, it makes it even more difficult for us to lose weight as it affects your ability to burn calories.
Russell Viner, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, mentions that due to some medical reasons, like prevention of allergies, it’s suggested to keep a home dust free, but all these things won’t make you achieve a healthy weight. You should follow balanced diet and regular exercise for weight loss.
Richard Sharpe, of the Center for Reproductive Biology at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland, said that some chemicals affect body regulatory systems, causing obesity. Hence, obesogens can play some role in causing obesity.
A study from the Duke University found that dust released from flame retardants in carpets and sofas, and phthalates, can lead to fat deposition in body.
Obesogens Affect Metabolism
A study conducted at the Harvard University showed that perfluoroalkyl substances, which are used in non-stick pans and pots, carpets and mattresses, triggered weight gain. This study published in PLOS Medicine [1] , revealed that higher levels of obesogens in the blood slow down the metabolism. A slower metabolism causes burning of only a fewer calories during daily activities, which forces a person to eat less to prevent being overweight.
A previous study has shown perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFAS) contaminates drinking water around industrial sites, wastewater treatment plants and military bases. The chemicals can be found in food chains and drinking water and remain in body for a long period.
All the studies show that only high levels of the chemicals in the body can make fat. Also, poor diet and lack of regular exercise also make you obese.
