Research Continues to Link Childhood Obesity with Packaging Chemicals
September 26, 2012 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign
Photo by @goldberg
It's a staggering thought. Some foods and beverages, no matter how healthy, may contribute to a child's risk for obesity simply because of their packaging. A new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association adds more research to this controversial issue area.
“Clearly bad diet and lack of exercise are the leading contributors to childhood obesity, but this study suggests a significant role for environmental, particularly chemical factors in that epidemic,” said study author Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, in a story for ABC News.
One major chemical in question is bisphenol A (BPA), which is already banned from bottles and sippy cups but continues in aluminum cans and other food packaging. BPA exposure may “disrupt multiple metabolic mechanisms” the study says.
Check out our previous blogs for more on the science behind chemical exposure and obesity:
- Chemical Exposure Linked to Childhood Obesity (May 2009)
- Unusual Suspects: Research Connects Chemical Exposure & Obesity (Feb. 2012)
