Is Plastic Making Us Fat?

By Rachel Cernansky, Planet Green

Hormone-mimicking chemicals that already have a bad rap for their role as endocrine disruptors in the body (including the notorious bisphenol A (BPA)), are now thought to also screw with the body’s metabolism and, depending on the amount and timing of exposure, predispose individuals to obesity.

We’re surrounded by these chemicals: BPA and pthalates are everywhere, from water bottles to dryer sheets to the PVC pipes that deliver your shower water, and they’re taking their toll. Call them obesogens–a term coined by Bruce Blumberg, a leading researcher on the issue. A recent Newsweek story illustrates the increasing body of evidence that links these chemicals to the body’s metabolism.

The problem is two-fold: in developing fetuses and newborn babies, the compounds turn precursor (undeveloped) cells into fat cells, and they may also interfere with the body’s metabolic rate even later on, driving the body to store calories rather than burn them.

How?

No one’s blaming these compounds for the entire obesity epidemic in the United States–fast food and lack of exercise are not off the hook–but emerging research points to obesogens as one cause of the unexplained tendency for some individuals to gain weight no matter what (or how little) they eat or how much they exercise. Obesogens seem to have the ability to disrupt the fundamental rule of weight management and body chemistry: weight gain occurs when calorie consumption exceeds the amount of energy burned. A potential explanation is that the compounds disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and may cause weight gain by, for example, programming the body’s clock to eat when it should be sleeping.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Beverley P.

2:23AM PDT on May 27, 2010

Thanks, very interesting and informative.

send a green star

Past Member .

9:22PM PDT on Mar 23, 2010

I m really surprised and shocked after reading your post!Plastics can also make us fat.Never thought about this before.That's so nice of you that you have shared this information with us.
you are the love of my life

3:47PM PST on Feb 10, 2010

wow, i didn't know about that. thanks for this interesting article.

7:04AM PST on Feb 3, 2010

I guess we have to blame getting fat on something. It's not the plastic; it's called plain over-eating.

5:52AM PST on Feb 3, 2010

We're entirely too dependent on plastic at this point. Things will have to change drastically if the use of plastic is to be reduced.

Charley H.

8:47PM PST on Feb 2, 2010

hmmm

8:46PM PST on Feb 2, 2010

6:29AM PST on Feb 1, 2010

Isn't it interesting to note that back in the day when a Colas only came in glass bottles- so many people screamed about the pollution they created and thus they went to plastic bottles. Now we see that plastic is far more harmful than glass ever was. -sigh-

dve d.

12:53AM PST on Jan 30, 2010

plasictic tabets capsules are bad for you they stay in side you and block you up ugh
no wonder a lot of people are fat the cant go to the toilet to get rid of unwanted food inside them

SuS NoMail Plez P.

7:01AM PST on Jan 29, 2010

Crystal, I respectfully disagree. I REFUSE PLASTIC in any form. It's tough sometimes, but that's just what I HAVE TO DO! I believe Plastic is downright evil at this time, during the current situation.