Obesity has been rising all over the world since the 1970s. According to the World Health Organization, the number of overweight people has nearly tripled since 1975. Many of us believe it’s because we eat too much, don’t move enough, or eat too many sugary and fatty foods. But what if something we can’t see is also part of the problem?
A scientist named Barbara E. Corkey has introduced a new idea that may help explain why people are gaining weight so quickly. She believes that certain chemicals in our environment, which she calls obesogens, may be silently contributing to the obesity crisis.
What Are Obesogens?
Obesogens are chemicals that might interfere with how our bodies store and use fat. Dr. Corkey, who has taught medicine and biochemistry for many years, suggests that these chemicals may be one of the hidden reasons people gain weight — even when they’re not eating more or exercising less.
These obesogens have been around for about 50 years. They’re in many parts of our daily lives: in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the products we use. Some may be in fertilizers, plastics, and even the pollution in the air.
Others could be found in ultra-processed foods like chips, cookies, or candy — foods that have gone through so much processing that they barely resemble anything natural.
How Do They Affect the Body?
Dr. Corkey believes that these chemicals may change how our body senses energy. Our bodies rely on internal signals to tell us when we’re full, when we’re hungry, or when we need more energy. One of these signals is called the redox state, which helps balance energy use and storage.
Obesogens might confuse these signals. If the body thinks it needs more energy when it doesn’t, it may tell us to eat more or store more fat. This could lead to weight gain — even if someone isn’t overeating on purpose.
That means it’s possible that some people gain weight not just because of what they eat or how active they are, but because their body is reacting to these hidden chemicals.
What Does This Mean for Treating Obesity?
Right now, most weight-loss advice is simple: eat less, move more. And while that can work for some people, it doesn’t work for everyone. If obesogens are real and have a strong effect on weight gain, we might need to change how we treat and prevent obesity.
First, scientists would need to figure out exactly which chemicals act as obesogens. Then, steps could be taken to reduce our exposure to them — by changing food packaging, farming methods, or how processed foods are made. If removing these chemicals isn’t possible, scientists may look for ways to protect the body from their effects.
What’s Next?
This idea is still being studied. Dr. Corkey’s work has been published in a respected science journal, which means other researchers are now reviewing it and testing it for themselves. If the theory holds up, it could change how we think about weight gain and lead to new ways to prevent or treat obesity.
For now, the idea of obesogens gives us something new to consider. It reminds us that weight gain isn’t always just about willpower, diet, or exercise. Sometimes, the world around us may be quietly influencing our health in ways we don’t fully understand yet.
As more research is done, we’ll learn whether obesogens truly are part of the obesity problem — and if so, how we can fight back.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies about orange that could help obesity, and a berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about whole grains are key to managing waist size, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
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