Research
Hormonal
Obesogens can induce transgenerational obesity through epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone retention, non-coding RNA) that persist in unexposed generations.
Since environmental exposures can affect future generations, minimizing chemical exposure (plastics, pesticides) is crucial for reproductive health and the long-term metabolic health of descendants.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
It was shown that the effects of TBT treatment on obesity were transgenerational and could be detected in the F1, F2, F3, and F4 descendants of F0 mice exposed during pregnancy (42) or during pregnancy and lactation (41).
Why this rating
Strong in animal models, but human transgenerational evidence is still emerging and debated.
Source
Environmental Obesogens and Their Impact on Susceptibility to Obesity: New Mechanisms and Chemicals
Riann Jenay Egusquiza et al. · Endocrinology · 2020
DOI 10.1210/endocr/bqaa024
narrative_reviewCited 175×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Exposure to environmental obesogens (e.g., tributyltin, BPA, phthalates) increases susceptibility to obesity by altering developmental programming of stem cells and metabolic regulation, independent of caloric intake.Good
- Prenatal exposure to tributyltin (TBT) permanently reprograms mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to favor adipogenesis over osteogenesis, leading to increased body fat and insulin resistance in offspring.Good
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