The Ultimate Insult To Your Fat-Burning Efforts:
The Obesogen

Let's cut right to the chase. The process is call adipogenesis. The offending chemicals are called obesogens. And quite frankly, if you're struggling with your weight, it's not good news. Not good news at all.

Is it true that chemicals we come in contact with in our environment could actually be blocking our weight-loss efforts? Isn't that just a dirty trick of Mother Nature's?

The answer to both of those questions seems to be "yes." And Jerry Heindel of the National Institute of Environmental health Sciences in the United States admits that the situation is both "plausible and possible."

But for you to get the full effect -- and the big picture - of what's really going on here, we have to take a few steps back in time. It appears that for several years, certain researchers have been trying to tell us this. They have said over and over again that specific chemicals in our environment can cause abnormal changes to the sexual development of animals.

That's all well and good, you think. And I would worry if I were a sheep or maybe even a goat. But being neither of those, how does that affect me?

Now these very same chemicals may also affect other areas of the body . . like fat cells. In fact, exposure to some chemicals may trigger fat-cell activity. And there's even a name for the process: it's called adipogenesis. Go figure!

Specifically, the chemicals scientist are looking at range from those used in marine paints and pesticides to those found in food and beverage containers.

Recent research involved the testing of individuals for levels of the specific chemical bisphenol A. the testing was completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the states. Of those tested, an overwhelming number (how does 95 percent strike you?) showed levels of this chemical that were either at or above those that affected the development of animals.

Any chemical that triggers fat-cell activity has been given the name obesogen. The definition for this new word is evolving, but roughly translated at the moment it means: any chemical that promotes obesity.

Encouraging, now isn't it?

Let's look at just one of these obesegens. It's called tributyltin. This chemical is known as an "endocrine disruptor". It actually mimics your body's natural hormones. It's used in marine and agricultural fungicide.

Bruce Blumberg, of the University of California, explains that tributyltin "disrupted genetic interactions that regulate fat-cell activity."

The bottom line (no pun intended!)? "An animal will get fatter faster as these cells produce more of the hormones that say 'feed me'," Blumberg says. And he should know. He conducted the original research.

The kicker to this research? The animal remains predisposed to obesity for the rest of his life.

It's bad enough the foods we eat are laden with a host of chemicals and additives that can promote and prompt obesity. But what type of insult is it when even the chemicals we're exposed to can make us fat?

I know what you're thinking. I'll just avoid this chemical. There. End of story.

Ah! This is not nearly as easy as you may think. This particular chemical is found in many, many products, including refillable water containers, baby bottles and even the material that line the inside of food tins. In some cases, this particular chemical is even used as a dental sealant.

As of 2003, industries used about two billion pounds of bisphenol A.

Are obesogens a real threat to your fat-burning efforts? To be fair, the research is just beginning. But the outlook is appearing pretty darn dim!

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