ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND OBESITY
Autori:
Melany Ćurić, Sanja Klobučar Majanović, Dijana Detel, Alen Ružić, Davor Štimac
Sažetak
Summary
The increasing prevalence of obesity is a global public health problem. In addition to unhealthy diet and reduced physical activity various chemical compounds that are found all around us may be one of the etiological factors of obesity development and its increased prevalence. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system. Obesogens are a subclass of endocrine disruptors that can disrupt normal development of adipose tissue and homeostasis of lipid metabolism. Obesogens can be found in cosmetics, electronics, plastic, but also in air, water and food that people consume. Early development (in utero, newborns) is the most vulnerable period for obesogen exposure. Developmental exposure to obesogens occurs through maternal diet and interaction with products that can cross the placental barrier or are transmitted through breast milk. In terms of dealing with the epidemic of obesity, it is of particular importance to establish control over obesogens and try to prevent or at least limit the exposure of people, especially children and pregnant women, to these dangerous compounds.