Common plastics may play a role in childhood obesity

Many plastic packaging and cans that we use daily could be factors in childhood obesity, as indicated by a new study published in the Journal of the endocrine society sure Thursday.

The reason for their weight gain? The chemicals used in the manufacture of these plastics and cans.

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Known as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), the two chemicals are used in many types of plastics, in the aluminum can liner for food and beverages, and in the cash register liner – the ones we touch when we're in stores.

The reason why two Chemicals are so common that they have replaced bisphenol A (BPA), another type of chemical deemed too dangerous to continue to be used because it harms people's health by interfering with the hormones in our body. body.

Thus, nowadays, these two chemicals, BPS and GMP, cover most of these plastics, cans and recipes instead of BPA, which is more harmful.

Corresponding author of the study, Melanie Jacobson of the NYU School of Medicine in New York, said: "This research is important because exposure to these chemicals is very common in the United States. The use of BPS and GMP is increasing as manufacturers replace BPA with these chemicals, which contributes to the frequency of exposure. "

Of course, exposure is not the only factor involved in childhood obesity – diet and sports remain the predominant factors in weight gain.

As Jacobson pointed out, "Although diet and exercise are still considered to be the major drivers of obesity, this research suggests that exposures to common chemicals may also play a role , especially in children ".

How did the team discover this and what was the end result?

The team of researchers focused their study on children and adolescents aged six to 19 years of age.

The urine samples from this group showed that children and adolescents with higher traces of GMP and BPS were more likely to be obese than those with lower rates.

In a previous study, we discovered that the predecessor chemical, BPS and GMP – BPA – was badociated with a higher prevalence of obesity in American children.This study revealed the same trend among new versions of this chemical, "said Jacobson. .

She continued: "Replacing BPA with similar chemicals does nothing to mitigate the harms of chemical exposure to our health."

The main question then is: what can we now use to replace BPF and BPS? Something chemical, that's for sure.