World

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

BPA linked to childhood obesity

By: Liz Szabo

Posted: 09/19/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

KIDS with higher levels of the widely used substance BPA in their bodies are more likely to be obese, according to the first large-scale, nationally representative study to link an environmental chemical with obesity in children and teens.

Researchers acknowledge their study's design doesn't allow them to definitely conclude BPA, or bisphenol A, caused the children's obesity. Rates of obesity have been rising for three decades as Americans have become more sedentary. But the findings, in Tuesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, add to a growing body of research -- in both humans and animals -- questioning BPA's safety, said Philip Landrigan, director of Children's Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

"It's a credible study and it has to be given some attention," said Landrigan, who was not involved with the study.

In particular, the study adds to the notion certain chemicals are "obesogens" that alter the body's metabolism, making it harder for people to lose weight, even with diet and exercise, says Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, who was not involved in the study, which drew on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveys of 2,838 kids and teens, ages six to 19.

-- USA Today

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 19, 2012 A8

Fact Check

Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.

* Required

In which story did you find the error? *
Please post the headline of the story or the title of the video with the error.
What was the error? *
Please post exactly what was wrong with the story.
What should we have written?
Please indicate your source for the correct information.
Who else should we interview to improve this story?
Please include any contact information you may have.
Can we contact you in the future for advice on stories about this topic?
Yes

No
First Name: *
Last Name: *
E–mail Address: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Phone: *
This will only be used to contact you if we have a question about your submission, it will not be used to identify you or be published.
Colour:
Are you blue? If you can see this, leave it blank and get some CSS support.
Enter the words that you see: * This is to prevent our forms from being filled out automatically.
You have failed to correctly identify the words in the box above. Please try again.

More World

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.