Review - Born to be Big
Early Exposure to Common Chemicals may be Programming Kids to be Fat
Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the U.S. and just when we needed it the most, there’s a new possible obesity excuse: Obesogens. Begley points out that scientists with the Harvard School of Public Health in 2006 reported a 73 percent increase in obesity for babies under 6 months old since 1980. The traditional reasons of less exercise and increased calories would not pan out for this group. There had to be other underlying causes. This would seem to confirm many studies that show calories and exercise affect people differently.
In addition, it was widely known that hormone-like substances taken by pregnant women can result in serious conditions in their babies as grown-ups. An example would be the anti-miscarriage drug, DES, raising the risk of cervical and vaginal cancer in the fetus as an adult.
History
- 2002 Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine first voiced the curious rise in obesity rates right in line with chemical use during the previous 40 year-period.
- 2003 Jerrold Heindel of NIEHS wrote a commentary alluding to the above study and the fact that tests for chemical toxicity then looked at whether weight loss resulted, not weight gain. A review of the older studies did show some chemicals in low doses increasing weight.
- 2006 Bruce Blumberg from the University of California tested tributyltin (a disinfectant and fungicide entering the food chain in seafood and drinking water) on pregnant mice. It was no surprise that the babies born had more stored fat, as well as increased fat cells. They were also 5 to 20 percent heavier as adults.
How It Happens
Using genetic testing, Blumberg determined that the chemical activated a receptor (PPAR gamma) which is essentially a cell switch. In this position, the cell turns into a fat cell. In the original position, the cell remains a fibroblast (body’s connective tissue). Hence, Blumberg coined the term “obesogens” for those substances that change a cell’s type.
Tests have now shown other obesogens acting on this pathway include phthalates used in many vinyl plastics, bisphenol A, and perfluoroalkyl compounds found in stain repellents and the popular nonstick surfaces.
Furthermore, animal tests have shown weight gain in exposed animals while doing about the same amount of exercise with no big difference in food intake from unexposed ones. This might point to an impaired metabolism. The article quoted Blumberg as follows, “One of the messages of the obesogens research is that prenatal exposure can reprogram metabolism so that you are predisposed to become fat.”
(For more detailed technical information, go to the obesogen article on the web.)
Affect on Modern-Day Persons
Being born with more fat cells (adipocytes) affects the person physiologically for the rest of their life. Not only are they hungrier, but the extra food has a handy long-term place to go, those waiting extra fat cells.
Coupled with a possible altered metabolism, you might be tempted to throw in the towel (you always said it was your metabolism anyway). However, not everyone’s weight is due to this theory. It probably is due to too little exercise and too much of the wrong food if you gained weight as an adult or as you aged, sorry.
Even if you were “born to be big”, it is possible to limit the detrimental effects by strictly eating properly and exercising very consistently. It is going to be much harder, but doable.
Future News
There is a government-sponsored meeting on this topic planned for this fall with scientists from several government agencies.
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