Obesity is a growing problem all over the world. Since 1975, the number of overweight people has nearly tripled.
We often blame high-fat food, sugar, and lack of exercise. But now, scientists are asking: could something else be causing it too?
Dr. Barbara E. Corkey, a medical and biochemistry expert, thinks certain chemicals—called obesogens—might be part of the problem. She believes these invisible chemicals could be quietly making people gain weight.
So, what are obesogens? These are chemicals that may confuse how our bodies store fat. They’ve been around for the last 50 years and are found in the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe.
Dr. Corkey thinks these chemicals may interfere with something called the “redox state” in our bodies. This is a system that helps our body know when it has enough energy. If obesogens throw off this balance, it could lead to fat gain—even if we’re not eating more or exercising less.
Obesogens may be hiding in ultra-processed foods like chips and candy. These foods are made with many added ingredients and are far from natural. People who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods are often heavier.
But it’s not just food. Obesogens might also be found in everyday items like plastics, fertilizers, and air pollution.
If this theory is right, it could totally change how we treat obesity. Right now, most advice focuses on eating less and moving more. But if chemicals are also causing weight gain, we’ll need new strategies.
The first step would be to figure out which chemicals are obesogens. Then we could try to remove them from our environment—or find ways to stop them from affecting our bodies.
Dr. Corkey has shared her research in a respected science journal, and now other scientists can test her ideas. If her theory is proven true, it could be a major step in fighting obesity.
So, what’s the takeaway? If you’re trying to lose weight and it’s not working, it may not be your fault. Hidden chemicals in the world around us might be making it harder than we think.
This new theory is still being studied, but it’s an important idea to watch. It could change how we think about obesity—and how we treat it—in the years to come.
If you care about obesity, please read studies about Scientists find two big contributors to obesity and findings of Higher dose of this diabetes med could improve blood sugar and weight loss.
For more about obesity, please read studies about Scientists find new key cause of obesity and findings of Double whammy: diabetes drug also knocks out obesity.
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