SECRET THICKENING AGENTS
It’s not just crappy food that’s making you fat. Scientists say that certain plastics, toothpastes and even dust might be contributing to skyrocketing obesity rates
OVEREATING and lack of exercise aren’t the only reasons for the growing obesity epidemic. Everyday chemicals in our environment may also be creating an uphill battle in weight loss, a growing community of scientists say.
Startling new figures were announced last week at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna: By 2045, nearly a quarter of the world will be obese, a whopping 14 percent increase from 2017.
Some experts say the endocrine system-disrupting, fat-inducing chemicals known as obesogens may be behind the huge increase. The chemicals can be found in everything from dust to plastic.
“We in the scientific community are increasingly finding that exposure to chemicals in our diet and environment may be an underrecognized risk factor,” writes endocrinology researcher Bruce Blumberg, Ph.D. in his recent book “The Obesogen Effect.”
“Even if you have bought into the latest trends — paleo, low-carb, gluten-free, Zumba or CrossFit gyms — you can still struggle mightily with weight because of what is in your environment.”
Although more research is needed — and fine-tuning your diet and being active is still the best way to lose weight — Blumberg says taking steps to eliminate these potentially harmful chemicals from your life is worth it.
BPA
Although the FDA says bisphenol A (BPA) is OK to consume in the amount that typically leaches into our food, the chemical additive found in rigid plastics has been linked in numerous studies to weight gain. A 2015 Canadian study that observed a breakdown product of BPA causing normal cells to turn into fat cells. BPA is usually found in disposable plastic water bottles, in the sealant of some canned foods and on the surface of some paper receipts. It can be especially potent when heated up.
Tip: Microwave your meals in glass or paper, and drink your water out of a stainless-steel water bottle. Look for products labeled BPA-free.
Teflon
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are the compounds that make many pots and pans nonstick and are found in Teflon. They’re also used on stain-resistant carpet and some fast food wrappers. And they could be making it harder to battle the bulge, says Dr. Qi Sun, assistant professor in the department of nutrition at Harvard’s School of Public Health. In February, Sun published the results of a two-year clinical study on the substances. It found that people who had more of them in their bodies exhibited greater weight gain, even after dieting. “These are the chemicals that can interfere with people’s efforts to lose weight,” Sun tells The Post.
Tip: Opt for stainless-steel or castiron pans.
Fungicides
You can be eating all the fruits and veggies you want, but often, they’ll have harmful chemicals on them that may be offsetting their good nutrients, Blumberg says. In animal studies, fungicides, a type of pesticide, have been linked to obesity and insulin resistance. “They help [produce] look fresh and good . . . but it doesn’t make it better
inside your body,” Blumberg says.
Tip: Buy organic as much as possible, but if you can’t, wash your smooth-skinned produce with baking soda. Add a teaspoon of it to a bowl of water and soak produce for 10 seconds, then scrub and rinse it off, says David Friedman, a naturopath and author of “Food Sanity.”
Triclosan
In 2017, the FDA banned the use of this potentially harmful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent in soaps and hand sanitizers, but it is still used in some toothpastes. The chemical has been associated with higher body mass index, ac- cording to a 2013 study published in PLoS One. It can also disturb thyroid, testosterone and estrogen regulation. “Once your endocrine is disrupted, you’re more prone to being overweight,” says Friedman.
Tip: Avoid products with Triclosan. Friedman favors a DIY hand sanitizer with aloe vera, alcohol and a small amount of lemon essential oil.
Dust
In May, researchers from the universities of Aveiro and Beira Interior in Portugal reviewed several studies of obesogens, and concluded that dust is among the common household substances that may be related to weight gain. But it’s too early to blame our weight gain on our messiness. “There [haven't] been enough big studies on dust yet to really condone [dust as causing obesity],” Friedman says.
Tip: Vacuum with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and dust your house with a damp cloth.
Antidepressants
In April, scientists found that patients taking antidepressants, including common ones such as Prozac and Zoloft, were more likely to gain weight compared to those not on the drugs, according to research published in journal the BMJ. The 10-year study demonstrated what many doctors have long observed in their patients, though they couldn’t say the weight gain was a direct result of the drugs themselves.
Tip: Talk to your doc about which is the “lesser of two evils” between gaining weight and treating the depression with the drugs, says Christopher Ochner, a director of research for the Hospital Corporation of America.
Parabens
As many as 90 percent of cosmetics contain these preservatives, according to the David Suzuki Foundation, an environmental nonprofit. Parabens have been observed to promote the development of fat cells in human tissue, according to a 2013 lab study published in Toxicological Sciences — though more research is needed to say whether it plays a significant role in causing obesity. While the FDA says the amount found in most products is safe, the European Union banned parabens in products in 2012, and some doctors worry about the cumulative effect of parabens on health issues such as cancer. “It’s a bit of a stretch” to say your makeup is the root of the obesity crisis, Blumberg says, “but [parabens are] certainly not improving your health.”
Tip: Look for paraben-free cosmetics and lotions.