The Obesity Epidemic: Looking Beyond the Obvious
Lawton Davis, M.D., director of South Central Health District, shares research on obesogens, compounds that interrupt the body's system that controls your weight, with employees at 2 Peachtree during a recent lunch and learn.

Is it possible that chemicals we're exposed to everyday could be a big part of the national obesity epidemic? Lawton Davis, M.D., director of South Central Health District, joined employees at 2 Peachtree to talk about obesogens-compounds found in everyday objects like some cans, water bottles, nonstick pans and shower curtains. The effect of these chemicals on cells is significant enough to interrupt the body's system that controls your weight-increasing fat cells and decreasing the calories you burn.

Dr. Davis described the growing obesity and overweight trend in the U.S. Both have risen dramatically in the nation over the past 30 years. Dr. Davis described the traditional focus on combating obesity as "just eat less and exercise more."  But then he posed a great question.

"What about all those children and adolescents who are getting fat and developing diabetes and hypertension?  Are they simply the victims of an overfed and under-exercised culture?"

Dr. Davis presented data that show that the prevalence of overweight/obesity in infants under six months of age has risen 73% since 1980. Dr. Davis cited Robert Lustig, an Endocrinologist at UC, San Francisco, who noted that, "this epidemic of obese six month olds poses a problem for conventional explanations of the fattening of America.  Since they're eating only formula or breast milk, and never exactly got a lot of exercise, the obvious explanations for obesity don't work for babies.  We need to look beyond the obvious." 
This "look beyond the obvious" has encouraged scientists to explore the link between synthetic chemicals and obesity.  Dr. Davis gave the example of bisphenol A, or BPA. Scientists were able to show that cells called prefibrolasts that were exposed to BPA in a lab environment became fat cells. "Based on these findings," said Dr. Davis, quoting the study "if this happened in living animals, as it did in cells in lab dishes, the result would be an animal with the tendency to become obese." 

Additional research has shown that the effect of chemicals on cells is so strong, that researcher have given them their own name-obesogens. These obesogens are ubiquitous, found everywhere from the lining of tin cans, to nonstick pans, to air fresheners, to the plastic your meat is wrapped in at the grocery store. Dr. Davis suggested a few ways to cut back on your exposure to obesogens.  He suggests: 
  • Avoiding most farm-raised fish like salmon, catfish and tilapia. In addition to being fed soy and cornmeal, farm-raised fish are administered a wide variety of chemical compounds that act as hormone mimics. Always choose wild, sustainable seafood. 
  • Being wary of canned foods, especially canned tomatoes, ravioli, chicken soup, and infant formula.  The lining of cans, including soft drinks, contains BPA.  Instead of canned veggies, buy frozen veggies. 
  • Avoiding buying pre-wrapped meats; if possible go to the meat counter, have your meat cut, and then wrapped in paper.
  • Considering a home water filter. 
  • Learning your "recycle codes." Steer clear of plastics with the number 3 or 7 on the bottom, which may leach BPA. Instead look for the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, which are unlikely to contain BPA.
  • Avoiding heating food in plastic containers in the microwave.
  • Avoiding non-stick cookware.  If you must use a non-stick pan, never use a metal utensil on it that can scratch the surface and release the chemicals inside, and throw away any scratched non-stick pans.  
While research on obesogens is still relatively new, researchers recommend taking the steps to lower your level of exposure. Eliminating contact with obesogens entirely is next to impossible, given that they are found everywhere, but taking the steps that Dr. Davis suggested can lower your amount of contact. 
 
-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications 

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