For many years there have been news stories about how various pesticides harm wildlife, including our beloved Bald Eagles. Gradually scientists recognized that humans exposed to food toxins, chemicals that leak into waters, and even some of these same pesticides can have disruption to their hormone system. With hormone disruption, we be come more obese.
We suspect that hair loss, aging, premature menopause, infertility, hypothyroidism as well as a host of other diseases can be related to the substances that have now gained the name Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals.
One of the largest endocrine hormone producing organs in our body is our fat tissue. It has been newly reported in the American Journal Of Obstetrics and Gynecology that a number of these Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals can alter the physiology of our adipose (fat) endocrine organ and cause obesity.
A new term has now arrived: Obesogen. Simply put an obesogen is a chemical that leads you to be obese. The question is what exact substances can act as an obesogen, and if we can identify them what can we do to limit exposure.
If we cannot identify the obesogens what can we do to inactivate them or inactivate their effects. Obesogens you may be getting exposed to include mercury, pesticides, insecticides (commercial), BPA, and phthalates. Toxin testing is not always available or affordable, but it is something you can discuss with your health care provider. Organic eating will limit exposure. One solution is easy: the less adipose tissue you have the fewer hormones there are to be disrupted.
So to the extent that you can lose weight, replace fat with muscle weight, or remove fat through technology such as CoolSculpting or Emsculpt, you can begin to inactivate the effects of obesogens. Whether at a heart healthy weight or carrying extra girth, the importance of minimizing toxin exposure has become clearer and clearer. If you are interested in finding ways to combat obesogens come in to discuss at Women’s Health Practice.
