chemicals and obesity news stories on Newser

Weight Loss May Push Toxins Into Bloodstream

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:40:00 CST

Scientists have uncovered a toxic underside to weight loss: the breaking down of fat cells can release a flood of "pollutants" stored there. Fat stores trap certain toxins such as DDT and PCBs. When significant amounts of fat are broken down, these chemicals are released into the bloodstream, where they...

Genetic Hiccup Causes Obesity In Mice: Study

Harry Kimball — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:07:37 CDT

Scientists have discovered an immune system pathway in the brain that they think is the root cause of diseases related to obesity, Reuters reports. When mice were overfed, the hypothalamus secreted a compound that suppressed the conversion of food into energy, and led to inflammation associated with heart disease and...

Why Am I Fat? One Word for You: Plastics

Sam Gale Rosen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:30:00 CST

Early exposure to chemicals found in common plastics could predispose a person to obesity, scientists suggest. Studies have shown that animals fed the chemicals, called endocrine disrupters, are fatter later in life than those who were not, the Boston Globe reports. Diet, exercise, and genetics are key factors, but "chemicals...

Chemicals Linked to Obesity

Heather McPherson — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:46:34 CDT

Chemicals found in everything from baby bottles to cleaning agents might be triggering the obesity epidemic, causing fat cells to grow and multiply out of control. A Centers for Disease Control study suggests that exposure of mice to chemicals like tributyltin—used in fungicides and plastics—increases fat cells, which...