Science Reveals: Everyday Chemicals and Toxins that Make You Fat

The facts are that obesity levels are up 300 percent since the 1980s and that one in every five children over the age of four is obese. In fact, it is said that this will be the first generation of children who will have a shorter lifespan than their predecessors. 

Everyone seems to feel that lack of physical activity and improper nutrition are the reason why children and adults are so obese. However, some feel that while lifestyle choices such as eating unhealthy foods and not exercising may contribute to obesity, chemical exposure can be a huge factor when it comes to increasing weight in both children and adults. 

One common chemical that may be contributing to obesity is phthalates. This is a chemical found in plastics that are used for personal care products and can disrupt hormones. Scientists, however, do not know how this chemical is linked or how it increases obesity. Although studies indicate that it is a contributory factor to obesity, scientists are not certain if it alters fat metabolism or the thyroid gland. 

PVC products are found in just about all plastic packaging, especially in personal care products. It is good to know what you are using when you use personal care products and if they can be a contributing factor towards obesity as well as other diseases. PVC is commonly called the “poison plastic” by those in the medical community and people are advised against using it. 

HCB is also linked to obesity. This chemical has been banned but is still in the soil and contaminates our food. Eating low fat meat and dairy can lower the risk of ingesting remnants of HCB plastic that still remain in water supplies and food. 

Another poison plastic that can contribute to obesity is BPA. This is found in plastic containers and bottles. It is easy to avoid this by eating fresh or frozen foods as well as using tetra packs instead of canned packs. PC 7 is another plastic product that should be avoided. 

When cooking, using cast iron pans is better than the Teflon pans that are so easy to clean. You should also avoid stain-resistant carpeting and clothing as it contains PFOA, a chemical that has also been linked to obesity.

There is no doubt about the fact that Americans today are more obese than in any previous generation. There is also no doubt about it that we use plastic and have chemical exposures more today than we did in past generations.

If you want to avoid obesity and maintain your health, you should do so by engaging in a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy foods, exercising and also avoiding chemicals that can be contributory factors towards obesity as well as other health problems. Certainly, by avoiding interaction with such products you are giving up convenience . . . but the payoff may just be worth it.