Exposure to chemicals tied to risk of obesity and diabetes

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The Endocrine Society recently published research that reveals exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and obesity.

These common chemicals are found in everyday items like food can linings, cash register receipts, plastics, cosmetics, flame retardants and pesticides.

“The evidence is more definitive than ever before – EDCs disrupt hormones in a manner that harms human health,” said Andrea C. Gore in a recent Newswise article. Professor and Vacek Chair of Pharmacology at the University of Texas at Austin and chair of the task force that developed the statement Gore went on to state that, “Hundreds of studies are pointing to the same conclusion, whether they are long-term epidemiological studies in human, basic research in animals and cells, or research into groups of people with known occupational exposure to specific chemicals.”

The study suggests that these chemicals can lead to insulin resistance and an overabundance of the hormone insulin in the body, making people or animals exposed to such chemicals, more at risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Unborn children are especially at risk to EDCs as they are more likely to trigger obesity later in life, the study reveals. Latino families are proven to be more at risk for diabetes and obesity. Knowing more about the link between these chemicals and chronic diseases may be helpful to researchers and Latino families in helping to prevent obesity and diabetes.

More is being done with the study to define causality. EDC exposure and health effects will be discussed on Twitter. Follow the conversation @TheEndoSociety #EndoChat to learn more.

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