Hormonal
Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during early development can alter adipose tissue homeostasis and energy regulation, predisposing individuals to obesity and metabolic syndrome even with low-calorie diets and increased physical activity.
If you are struggling with weight loss despite diet and exercise, consider your environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors (found in plastics, pesticides, and certain consumer products). While you cannot control all environmental factors, minimizing exposure to plastics (e.g., avoiding heating food in plastic) and choosing fresh over processed foods may support metabolic health, especially if you were exposed to these chemicals during early development.
These chemicals, called 'obesogens,' could predispose some people to weight gain despite following a low caloric diet and increasing physical activity (4, 16, 25).
Why this rating
The paper is a review citing animal models and epidemiological associations, but explicitly states causal relationships are not yet fully established due to complexity and confounding factors.
Source
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Effects on Endocrine Glands
Rosa Lauretta et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2019
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2019.00178
More from this paper
- Occupational exposure to pesticides and biocides is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer, particularly in male adults.Good
- Exposure to specific endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., phthalates, BPA, vinclozolin) is associated with an increased risk of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS) and reduced male fertility.Moderate
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