There is a lot in modern society that doesn’t make it easy to lose weight. Fast food on every corner, binge-watching TV, LED lights disrupting our sleep and ample amounts of stress all present steep challenges to leading a healthy lifestyle. If all that isn’t enough, there may be another suspected culprit lurking in plain sight in the form of plastic.
It may sound like science fiction, but research has shown some evidence that certain types of plastic can disrupt normal biological functions that control weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.
The first fully synthetic, or non-natural, plastic debuted in the early 20th century and exploded into mainstream mass production around the time of World War II. Since then the chemical makeup of plastic has taken many forms in efforts to cost-efficiently widen its industrial applications, replacing more expensive and inflexible natural materials. Today we find it practically everywhere, such as in baby bottle, medical syringes, electronic devices, toys, cosmetics, and cookware. We’re even using 3D printers to create plastic objects at work and home.
The types of plastics thought to cause weight gain, mainly through altering hormonal functions, have earned the infamous “obesogen” label. Researchers have identified 20 plastics that fall into this category. Two of them – phthalates and bisphenol A - have received a great deal of attention.
Phthalates (pronounced TH-a-LAYTS) are chemicals that make plastics soft and bendable. Of all plastics, they may pose the greatest risk for diseases associated with weight gain as they have been specifically linked to the development of fat in the abdominal region (the most harmful type of fat). More men than women seem to be affected by phthalates.
Bisphenol A, or more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical compound that imitates a natural sex hormone. It binds to estrogen receptors, which causes disruption to natural hormonal processes. BPA appears to do most of its damage in the womb, affecting the growing fetus’ ability to develop a healthy metabolism. BPA is believed to both increase the number and size of fat cells, and exposure to it has been linked to insulin resistance, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction.
Again, there has been no conclusive evidence to link weight gain to these plastics, but researchers have reported enough findings to give consumers some pause. As always, it’s best to conduct your own research to determine what makes sense for your health and lifestyle.
