Obesity is becoming a major problem across the world.
Since 1975, the number of overweight people has nearly tripled, according to the World Health Organization.
Many of us believe the usual causes are eating too much fat, sugar, or junk food, or not exercising enough. While those are real factors, scientists are now asking: could something else be quietly causing weight gain?
A scientist named Barbara E. Corkey thinks the answer might be yes. She has introduced a new idea that some chemicals in our environment—called obesogens—could be playing a sneaky role in the obesity crisis.
Corkey is a well-known researcher in medicine and biochemistry, and she believes obesogens might change the way our bodies process and store fat.
So what are obesogens? These are man-made chemicals that have been in our environment for the past 50 years. They may be found in the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe.
Some scientists think these chemicals can confuse our body’s natural signals that tell us when to eat or how much fat to store. This means people might start gaining weight even if they’re not eating too much or skipping exercise.
Corkey explains that the body uses a kind of chemical signal system, known as the ‘redox state,’ to decide when it needs more energy or when it has enough. If obesogens interfere with this system, it might cause the body to store fat even when it doesn’t need to. It could also make people feel hungry even when they’re full.
These chemicals might be hiding in highly processed foods like chips, candy, or packaged snacks. These foods often contain many ingredients that don’t exist in nature.
Studies have already shown that people who eat more of these ultra-processed foods often weigh more. Obesogens may also come from everyday products like plastic containers, fertilizers, and even air pollution.
If Corkey’s theory is proven true, it could change the way we treat obesity. Today, most doctors and health experts focus on helping people eat less and exercise more.
But if hidden chemicals are playing a part, then we need new ways to help people manage their weight. This might include identifying obesogens, reducing our exposure to them, or creating treatments that block their effects.
Corkey’s research has been published in a respected science journal, which means other scientists can now review it and test it for themselves. More research is needed, but this could be an important new chapter in our fight against obesity.
The idea of obesogens gives us a new way to think about weight gain. Maybe it’s not just about willpower or personal choices. Maybe some chemicals in our modern environment are quietly influencing our health in ways we don’t fully understand yet.
As science continues to explore this topic, we may find better answers for why obesity is so common and how to stop it. If you care about your health or struggle with weight, this is definitely an area of research worth watching.
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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