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Weight gain from shampoo bottles? Scientists discover chemicals in plastic are making people fat!
If you’ve been jumping around just to get those cheeks in your denims despite staying loyal to your new year’s fitness resolution, then you’re probably racking your brains as to what may be causing the extra fluff. Well, look no further because the culprit is….in your shower. No, really— we’re just as shocked as you are!
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology analyzed 34 different plastic products and identified 11 chemicals that studies have shown may potentially be making people fat by messing with their metabolic processes. Most every day items in plastic containers are home to said substances, known as ‘metabolism-disrupting chemicals’.
“Our experiments show that ordinary plastic products contain a mix of substances that can be a relevant and underestimated factor behind overweight and obesity,” says associate professor, Martin Wagner.
Contrary to popular belief, recent studies have shown that chemicals found in plastic don’t stay put in the containers. They leach out and are absorbed by the human body. Who would’ve known that even the tiniest of particles had the potential to cause such serious health hazards?
The linkage to weight-gain becomes more apparent as one-third of the plastic products investigated contained chemicals that were found to contribute to fat cell development, swiftly aiding in multiplying and accumulating stubborn fat cells. In addition to the endless list of havoc brought about by plastic, some also contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, referred to as 'obesogens', that may affect development and fertility.
It’s worth noting that the researchers did notice something curious in their findings: although many of the plastic products contain chemicals that are known to impact metabolism, some of the findings indicate that chemicals that were previously thought to be safe or inert may also boost fat cell development. This means that there are still several unidentified chemicals that impact how our bodies store fat.
“It's very likely that it is not the usual suspects, such as Bisphenol A, causing these metabolic disturbances… This means that other plastic chemicals than the ones we already know could be contributing to overweight and obesity.” said one of the study’s authors, Johannes Völker.
As you may already know, obesity continues to be a major issue across the globe. It is among the most common causes of premature death and it makes us more susceptible to diseases such as covid, cardiovascular issues, and cancer. The researchers' findings suggest that the seemingly harmless and unregulated chemicals found in common items might be a crucial factor in the rising cases of obesity.
“Consequently, identifying and understanding other environmental factors than lifestyle is crucial to manage obesity,” the authors wrote.
This latest study just goes to show that there are several factors promoting weight gain that have absolutely nothing to do with how much we eat or exercise. As if trying to stay in shape isn’t hard enough already! An article by Creveling, Mallory (November, 2018) lists things that are easy to miss such as lack of sleep, stress, certain medications, depression, and aging as factors that might throw you off your fitness goals.
Apparently, carbs aren’t the main enemies!
Watch how microplastics can affect your health here.
