Obesity is a growing concern worldwide, and it’s not a minor issue. According to the World Health Organization, the number of overweight people has nearly tripled since 1975.
But what’s causing this increase? Some people blame too much fat or sugar in our diets. Others say it’s because we’re not active enough. But a new theory suggests that the problem might also involve everyday chemicals.
A Fresh Angle: Meet the “Obesogens”
Barbara E. Corkey, a scientist who used to teach medicine and biochemistry at Boston University, has a new idea. She thinks certain chemicals, which she calls “obesogens,” could be part of the problem.
These chemicals have been around for about 50 years and can be found in our food, water, and even the air we breathe.
How Do Obesogens Mess with Our Bodies?
Corkey believes that these obesogens might trick our bodies into thinking they need more food or should store more fat.
These chemicals could mess up a signal in our bodies that helps us know when we need more energy or have too much. If this signal goes haywire, we could start storing more fat or feel hungry even when we don’t need food.
Where Are Obesogens Found?
These chemicals could be in processed foods like chips and candy. Studies show that people who eat lots of these foods tend to weigh more.
They could also come from the many chemicals we encounter daily, like those in fertilizers, plastics, and air pollution.
What Could This Mean for Fighting Obesity?
If Corkey is right, her theory could change how we think about and treat obesity. Right now, most plans focus on eating less and moving more.
But if obesogens are a key part of the problem, we might need to think about getting rid of these chemicals or finding ways to stop them from messing up our bodies.
Corkey has suggested some tests that could show if obesogens are really causing obesity.
If these tests confirm her theory, the next step would be to identify these chemicals and figure out how to get rid of them or stop them from messing up our bodies.
Her ideas have been published in a scientific journal, which means other experts can review her work and run their own tests.
As more research is done, we’ll hopefully get a clearer picture of whether these chemicals are contributing to the obesity crisis.
If you’re concerned about weight management, you might also want to read about foods like berries that can help prevent obesity, or small lifestyle changes that can help you maintain a healthy weight.
For more info on the obesity crisis, check out recent studies on diets like the low-carb keto diet, which has shown promise in managing weight effectively.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more information about weight loss, please see recent studies that the Mediterranean diet can reduce belly fat much better, and the Keto diet could help control body weight and blood sugar in diabetes.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
