Chemicals Linked to Obesity

In mice, common chemicals trigger fat cells and "feed me" hormones

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Mar 12, 2007 10:46 AM CDT

(Newser) – Chemicals found in everything from baby bottles to cleaning agents might be triggering the obesity epidemic, causing fat cells to grow and multiply out of control. A Centers for Disease Control study suggests that exposure of mice to chemicals like tributyltin—used in fungicides and plastics—increases fat cells, which in turn leads to the release of a “feed me” hormone.

What’s worse, this vicious cycle can’t be broken with diet or exercise: The problem starts in utero, lasts a lifetime, and is irreversible. One chemical, bisphenol A, commonly used to fatten up livestock—and in water bottles and canned food—was found in 95 percent of people tested, and at levels that matched the morbidly obese lab mice raised on the stuff.

' (Getty Images)

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Chemicals Linked to Obesity

In mice, common chemicals trigger fat cells and "feed me" hormones

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Chemicals Linked to Obesity

In mice, common chemicals trigger fat cells and "feed me" hormones

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

obesity • health • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • obesity epidemic • tributyltin • bisphenol A • chemicals and obesity • baby bottle • fat • fungicide

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Why Am I Fat? One Word for You: Plastics

Chemicals in common items may play role in rising obesity rates

10 Extra Pounds Might Be Good

New research is focusing less on the bathroom scale

Healthiest US City Gets Moving

Burlington, Vt., tops list due to active citizens; Huntington, W.Va., is unhealthiest

Parents Blind to Their Fat Kids

Only 13% recognize when their child is obese

Army Wants to Fight Obesity—With Fat Injections

New research award asks companies for a way to generate 'good' brown fat

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?