The Hidden Factor Contributing to Childhood Obesity
What if all the
McDonald's Happy Meals and long nights of watching television weren't the main contributing factors to your child's obesity, and in fact the real reason could very well be “invisible” factors in his or her surroundings?
No, not invisible in terms of a ghost or other spirit. But invisible in a common chemical that you might encounter every single day and just not know it.
Chemicals to Blame?Well, according to researchers from the Children's Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, there is indeed a strong link between childhood obesity and exposure to a man-made chemical group. Enough exposure to this group of chemicals known as
phthalates could lead to an increased waist circumference and a higher body mass index (BMI).
These findings, which were recently published in the online journal
Environmental Research, show that while a poor diet can indeed cause obesity, there has been a hidden culprit compounding the effects of
unhealthy eating and a sedative lifestyle.
Phthalates are human-created chemicals that are used most commonly in plastic flooring, wall coverings, food-processing materials, personal care products and medical devices. The chemicals can disrupt...
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