palmer

Common Obesogens and Their Pathways

As discussed in part one, obesogens are environmental pollutants that may alter the body’s metabolism and predispose some individuals to weight gain. They are very widespread and research has confirmed that our exposure is quite common – and particularly damaging during fetal and infant development.

High-Profile Obesogens
There is a growing body of evidence that provides a link between our exposure to specific environment chemicals from dietary, pharmaceutical, and industrial compounds and how they alter metabolic processes and predispose some people to gain weight.

At the top of the list is a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Commercially known

Obesogens Are Environmental Pollutants That May Alter the Body’s Metabolism And Predispose Some Individuals To Weight Gain.

Obesity rates in America have risen dramatically in the past 40 to 50 years. Today, over 35% of adults and 17% of children age 2 to 19 in the United States are obese with a BMI (body mass index) between 25 and 30. But, obesity isn’t just a problem plaguing Americans as obesity rates have also risen worldwide. Regardless of where they live, even those at the lower end of the BMI are gaining weight, suggesting that there may be more to weight gain

One of the most common problems experienced by people with hypothyroidism and Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome is weight gain. And, to make matters worse, poor thyroid function makes it very difficult for a person to lose weight. This double whammy can create a very frustrating situation for anyone suffering from this condition. Thankfully, with proper treatment, this issue can be resolved, but the path getting there may be slow and uncertain.

Many of my patients have voiced their frustration with this issue which is why I have spent a great deal of time researching the subject of weight loss and gain.

When the thyroid isn’t functioning properly, as in hypothyroidism and Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome, there can be a domino effect which has the potential to negatively impact many other systems in the body. One of these dominos is an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Additional risk factors associated with being diabetic include the development of cardiovascular disease (such as hypertension, heart attack and stroke), vision problems, and kidney disease.

Left untreated, diabetic complications from low thyroid function can be serious and even life-threatening. A number of studies have focused on finding the root cause of this very preventable disease.

If you open up your kitchen cupboard, there’s a good chance you’ll find at least one non-stick frying pan or baking sheet. These make cooking trouble-free and became popular because it made it easier to cook with less oil. That non-stick coating is also known as Teflon, and the chemical name is Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Not only are these chemicals found in cookware, but also other common household products which are stain or water resistant such as carpets and clothing.

PFOA/S are so prevalent that they are found in the blood of most humans and animals.

Following our ongoing theme of inflammation, today I want to discuss how good old exercise decreases inflammation. Yes- another fabulous reason to get out there and take a walk or hop on your bike!

To start this discussion of inflammation, we should first recognize there are basically 2 categories of inflammation. One is the kind that occurs at the site of an injury/ wound, and this type is beneficial because it helps recruit immune cells to the area to help heal damaged tissue. Although initially beneficial, it can become a problem if it is ongoing and doesn’t resolve.

The other