The Role of Endocrine Disruptors in Childhood Obesity: Unraveling the Obesogens.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic, animal, and human literature without systematic review methodology
PubMed 40139165 · doi:10.1159/000545043
What was done
This narrative review summarizes evidence on environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs, or obesogens)—including bisphenol A, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, and pesticides—and their role in the development of childhood obesity across cellular models, animal studies, and human populations.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative values, sample sizes, or effect estimates. It qualitatively describes multiple mechanisms of action, noting that obesogens act as agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), steroid receptors, and aryl hydrocarbon receptors; alter appetite regulation; promote inflammation; disrupt gut microbiome ecology and function; and induce transgenerational epigenetic changes.
Why it matters
It highlights environmental chemical exposures as potential non-caloric contributors to childhood obesity, summarizing biological pathways to inform pediatric exposure reduction strategies.
Limits
As a narrative review, it presents no original data, quantitative meta-analyses, or systematic quality assessments. The abstract lacks clinical effect sizes, exposure thresholds, and data distinguishing the relative contribution of chemical exposures from traditional dietary and genetic risk factors.
Cited by
- supports PFAS chemicals are linked to health issues including hormone disruption, gut microbiome disruption, and fertility issues.