Obesogen: An Invisible Food Substance Keeping You Fat

New research performed by scientists over food items suggest the presence of obesogen in food items.

Everyone look’s for certain ways to lose their body fat. Even you may have tracked your calorie level, cut down your portion size, and read nutrition labels before buying packed food. But, you may have left one important factor, which is increasing obesity rate: food chemicals. The study conducted in PLOS Medicine stated that obese and overweight adults that consume food with a high concentration of man-made chemicals like PFASs regain weight much quicker even if they lose weight. And the current scenario is like, the PFASs are in everything, from household cleaners to food packaging. 

 This study suggested that pollutants have been interfering with our weight loss efforts, said by one of the authors Dr. Qi Sun, Assistant Professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Department. 

The news created quite a hype, but it doesn’t surprise the Professor of Departments of Development and Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bruce Blumberg. He is currently at the University of California and was the first to invent the term. “Obesogen” in 2006. The term is used for the invisible substances that accelerate the fat production in our body. 

You may get surprised to know that there are certain fats that can change the whole biology of your body to handle calories, said by Blumberg in one of this statement. His research has shown that even a little amount of exposure to the obesogen can lead to obesity later on in mice. The research conducted by Sun and colleagues shows something similar in human’s case also. It’s not easy, but we can avoid exposure to such chemicals, says Qi Sun. Here are few things where you can start:

Restaurant Meal 

If you are planning to go out for dinner, just remember that you might end-up getting served unwanted phthalates, which is a group of hormone-disrupting chemicals usually found in plastics, etc. One of the German Study conducted over the mice found that phthalates could be Obesogen. They are very common in cafeteria, restaurant and fast food meals, suggested by the new research in the Journal Environmental International. People who usually eat outside meal have phthalate levels up to 35% or more, as compared to those who prepare their own meal, say researchers. The worst phthalates chemical meals: Sandwiches and burgers. 

Your Kitchen Cupboard 

 If you are aiming at less exposure to food chemicals and healthier eating, then the best way is to eat much-unprocessed food, and limit packed food consumption. Blumberg says, “It’s got to be No. 1 job as you will be controlling what your food contains.” His upcoming book, “The Obesogen Effect,” comprises of compounds like monosodium glutamate, processed and added sugar, artificial food colors, and sweeteners, which are nutritional obesogens. All these compounds must be avoided when buying package-foods. Meta-analysis of 2017 shows that long-term consumption of artificial sweeteners can lead to increased body mass index, although it needs more research. 

The Take-Out Containers 

Not just the restaurant food, but the paper wrappers, boxes and grease-proof containers also have PFASs, say experts. Dr. Qi Sun says that because they are considered oil-repellent, that’s why they are widely used in consumer products. In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration banned the pizza boxes containing PFASs. Microwaveable popcorn bags linings are yet another product containing PFASs, said Blumberg. All are associated with chemicals, one way or the other. 

Product Drawer 

No doubt, all vegetables, and fruits are nutritious, whether they are canned, conventional, or organic, but not all are Obesogen-free. Tracey Woodruff, an author of the dining-out study, and a professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine suggests organic shopping of food items. You can’t deny the fact that pesticides used over crops, vegetables, and fruits are endocrine-disrupting, which can mess up our hormones, but they can also contribute to weight gain, which is another side-effect. Well, you can look for “Clean 15” and “Dirty Dozen” by Environmental Working Groups. Through them, you will know at least and most contaminated conventional vegetables and fruits. For instance, strawberries fall under “Dirty” category, but avocados are much better. 

In the end, if you are ever asked “Do you need your receipt?” at the grocery store, just say no. Not just to save few bucks, but to avoid exposure to potentially obesogenic chemicals and BPA. They can get into your blood via skin, and even though the air when you touch receipts and thermal papers, written by Blumberg in his book.