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BPA Baby obesity: Researcher suspects BPA/baby obesity link |
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Written by Heather VanNest, 10 Connects
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Friday, 22 January 2010 |
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 Drive-thru burgers and fries, movie theater popcorn with three days worth of fat and calories, video games, smart phones and TV, there are plenty of villains in the war against obesity. But all of the usual suspects don't explain the latest segment of the population with rising obesity rates - infants.
Research from Harvard University shows infant obesity has risen more than 70 percent since 1980. The numbers are staggering and confusing because babies eat only formula or breast milk and they've never been much into exercise.
Why Are Babies Getting Fat?
Local researchers believe it a common household chemical may be to blame. "Research has shown since 2001 that being exposed to BPA during development changes your body weight," explained Tufts University Scientists, Dr. Laura Vandenberg.
BPA, or Bisphenol-A, is found in hundreds of consumer products. "Humans are most likely exposed to BPA through oral exposures," Vandeberg said. "BPA is used to line the inside of cans and that's thought to be a major exposure in adults."
Dr. Vandenberg and her colleagues have evidence that mice exposed to tiny amounts BPA while in the womb gained more weight than mice that were not exposed. The animals didn't eat more and they got the same amount of exercise. "What actually happens is the fat cells have more fat in them so each cell is actually getting larger," Vandenberg said.
BPA Concerns
BPA made headlines recently when environmentalists raised concern about its use in baby and water bottles. As a result, many companies removed it. Just last week, the FDA also raised concern about BPA. The agency announced it will work with food manufacturers to find safer alternatives.
Kelly Domina of Billerica says she went out of her way to find BPA-free bottles for her 6-week-old daughter, Ryan. But what most moms don't realize is BPA is also used to line formula cans. Even breast milk has BPA because of the mother's exposure to the chemical.
"Even organic foods are being canned in a regular can," Dr. Vandeberg pointed out. "It's impossible to shop your way out of this problem."
The companies that make and use Bisphenol-A have done their own studies and insist the chemical is safe.
Massachusetts congressman Ed Markey is sponsoring a bill to restrict the use of BPA in canned food and ban it entirely from baby and water bottles.
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