increase in diabetes and obesitywith
BPA exposure
Researchers have found a link between chemicals that mess with our
hormones such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, and the two biggest
public health threats currently facing society - type 2 diabetes and
obesity.
These chemicals are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and they’re found in a whole lot of items we touch daily, such as pesticides, food cans, cosmetics, cash register receipts, and even wine. “The chemicals are so common that nearly every person on Earth has been exposed to one or more,” a statement from the US Endocrine Society explains.
EDCs have long been known to mess with our body’s natural systems by mimicking or interfering with the action of hormones. Because hormones are so important at regulating our bodies, this can change the way our cells grow and develop, and can impact most of our biological functions, such as eating, sleeping, and reproducing.
But in a report issued today by the US Endocrine Society, leading endocrinologists detail new evidence both in humans and animal models that suggests exposure to the chemicals can also contribute to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity.
The new evidence includes a long-term epidemiological study that showed that people who are exposed to more EDCs are more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes. The statement also outlined a growing body of evidence that linked EDC exposure to infertility, hormone-related cancers, and neurological issues.
"The evidence is more definitive than ever before - EDCs disrupt hormones in a manner that harms human health," said Andrea C. Gore, a pharmacologist at the University of Texas at Austin and chair of the Endocrine Society task force. “Hundreds of studies are pointing to the same conclusion, whether they are long-term epidemiological studies in human, basic research in animals and cells, or research into groups of people with known occupational exposure to specific chemicals."
The evidence suggests that the risk is particularly high for unborn children who are exposed to EDCs while in the womb. In animal studies, researchers have found that this type of exposure causes obesity later in life, and can also affect beta and alpha cells in the pancreas, fat cells, and liver cells, which can lead to insulin resistance.
There's no need to panic just yet, the US Food and Drug Administration reassure people that the levels of BPA found in food containers and packaging is safe. And so far, researchers haven’t managed to show exactly how EDCs trigger type 2 diabetes and obesity in humans.
But the Endocrine Society argues that there’s enough evidence to suggest their involvement in the increase in these two conditions to warrant action. Currently around 35 percent of American adults are obese, and more than 29 million people in the US have diabetes.
"It is clear we need to take action to minimise further exposure," Gore said. "With more chemicals being introduced into the marketplace all the time, better safety testing is needed to identify new EDCs and ensure they are kept out of household goods."
They’re also calling for additional research into the cause-and-effect relationships between EDC exposure and health conditions, and better public education about EDC risks. And they make a pretty compelling argument. You can read the statement yourself over at Endocrine Reviews.
For more than 30 years, McDonald’s has included toys
alongside children’s Happy Meals. And for more than 30 years, the rates
of diabetes and obesity in children have steadily increased.
A cheeseburger Happy Meal has 520 calories, 20 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, and a whopping 880 milligrams of sodium. Happy Meals are marketed as explicitly for children, and then children are rewarded with toys for consuming the high amounts of fat and sodium.
With the increased focus on Let’s Move and the rising costs of
childhood obesity, McDonald’s has tried to make its unhealthful meals
more palatable via marketing. It has introduced Happy, a new Happy Meal mascot, which children found so unappealing that the image—and kids’ reactions—went viral.
McDonald’s has also introduced e-books in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Offering books with a meal creates a more positive image than offering a toy, though the toys still appeal to children by tying in to current trends and popular culture. Recently, McDonald’s has promoted toys connected to Spider Man, Pokémon, and American Girl. In 2006, Disney ended its cross-promotional contract with McDonald’s, not wanting Disney characters to be used to market unhealthful products.
Offering toys and books in exchange for purchasing and consuming a high-fat, sodium-laden meal is a potentially dangerous tactic that could further the current health crisis facing children in the U.S.
In addition to the physical cost, childhood obesity comes with a financial cost. Research published in Pediatrics indicates that obese children face an additional $19,000 in lifetime medical costs. Multiplied by the number of obese 10-year-olds in the U.S., the price tag for that age group alone reaches approximately $14 billion.
Fast food intake among children is likely a major culprit. The main component of the Happy Meal is a beef patty, and research has shown that meat eating should be considered a risk factor for diabetes since even moderate amounts of meat consumption can increase risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents have children as young as three screened for high blood pressure. One of the recommended ways to prevent hypertension is avoiding processed foods and eating a heart-healthy diet. With excessive sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol levels, the Happy Meal is not a heart-healthy option.
In 2012, the Chilean government passed a law preventing fast-food restaurants from including free toys or other rewards with their meals.
Despite the 520 calories and 20 grams of fat in a Happy Meal, McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson responded by telling the girl that McDonald’s does not sell junk food. This year, Robertson continued her campaign, sending a letter to encourage McDonald’s to stop using marketing tricks to push unhealthful food options.
These chemicals are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and they’re found in a whole lot of items we touch daily, such as pesticides, food cans, cosmetics, cash register receipts, and even wine. “The chemicals are so common that nearly every person on Earth has been exposed to one or more,” a statement from the US Endocrine Society explains.
EDCs have long been known to mess with our body’s natural systems by mimicking or interfering with the action of hormones. Because hormones are so important at regulating our bodies, this can change the way our cells grow and develop, and can impact most of our biological functions, such as eating, sleeping, and reproducing.
But in a report issued today by the US Endocrine Society, leading endocrinologists detail new evidence both in humans and animal models that suggests exposure to the chemicals can also contribute to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity.
The new evidence includes a long-term epidemiological study that showed that people who are exposed to more EDCs are more likely to develop obesity and type 2 diabetes. The statement also outlined a growing body of evidence that linked EDC exposure to infertility, hormone-related cancers, and neurological issues.
"The evidence is more definitive than ever before - EDCs disrupt hormones in a manner that harms human health," said Andrea C. Gore, a pharmacologist at the University of Texas at Austin and chair of the Endocrine Society task force. “Hundreds of studies are pointing to the same conclusion, whether they are long-term epidemiological studies in human, basic research in animals and cells, or research into groups of people with known occupational exposure to specific chemicals."
The evidence suggests that the risk is particularly high for unborn children who are exposed to EDCs while in the womb. In animal studies, researchers have found that this type of exposure causes obesity later in life, and can also affect beta and alpha cells in the pancreas, fat cells, and liver cells, which can lead to insulin resistance.
There's no need to panic just yet, the US Food and Drug Administration reassure people that the levels of BPA found in food containers and packaging is safe. And so far, researchers haven’t managed to show exactly how EDCs trigger type 2 diabetes and obesity in humans.
But the Endocrine Society argues that there’s enough evidence to suggest their involvement in the increase in these two conditions to warrant action. Currently around 35 percent of American adults are obese, and more than 29 million people in the US have diabetes.
"It is clear we need to take action to minimise further exposure," Gore said. "With more chemicals being introduced into the marketplace all the time, better safety testing is needed to identify new EDCs and ensure they are kept out of household goods."
They’re also calling for additional research into the cause-and-effect relationships between EDC exposure and health conditions, and better public education about EDC risks. And they make a pretty compelling argument. You can read the statement yourself over at Endocrine Reviews.
Childhood Lost: How the Happy Meal Can Lead to Diabetes, Obesity, and Hypertension
A cheeseburger Happy Meal has 520 calories, 20 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, and a whopping 880 milligrams of sodium. Happy Meals are marketed as explicitly for children, and then children are rewarded with toys for consuming the high amounts of fat and sodium.
McDonald’s has also introduced e-books in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Offering books with a meal creates a more positive image than offering a toy, though the toys still appeal to children by tying in to current trends and popular culture. Recently, McDonald’s has promoted toys connected to Spider Man, Pokémon, and American Girl. In 2006, Disney ended its cross-promotional contract with McDonald’s, not wanting Disney characters to be used to market unhealthful products.
Offering toys and books in exchange for purchasing and consuming a high-fat, sodium-laden meal is a potentially dangerous tactic that could further the current health crisis facing children in the U.S.
One-Third of U.S. Children are Overweight or Obese
Nearly one-third of children in the United States eat fast food every day. And more than one-third of children in the United State are overweight or obese. This is more than double the obesity rate from 30 years ago. Not only can obesity affect a child’s daily life and self-esteem, being obese at a young age sets children up for other health problems later in life.In addition to the physical cost, childhood obesity comes with a financial cost. Research published in Pediatrics indicates that obese children face an additional $19,000 in lifetime medical costs. Multiplied by the number of obese 10-year-olds in the U.S., the price tag for that age group alone reaches approximately $14 billion.
Diabetes is No Longer Just for Grown-Ups
As obesity rates in children rise, the diabetes epidemic is getting much worse. Though diabetes used to be a condition seen primarily in adults, a recent study found that type 2 diabetes rates rose 30 percent in children and adolescents between 2001 and 2009.Fast food intake among children is likely a major culprit. The main component of the Happy Meal is a beef patty, and research has shown that meat eating should be considered a risk factor for diabetes since even moderate amounts of meat consumption can increase risk.
Sodium and Hypertension
Sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure in both adults and children. Harvard researchers found that high blood pressure in kids and teens increased 27 percent in a 13-year span. Additionally, children who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of hypertension.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents have children as young as three screened for high blood pressure. One of the recommended ways to prevent hypertension is avoiding processed foods and eating a heart-healthy diet. With excessive sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol levels, the Happy Meal is not a heart-healthy option.
Attempts to Ban the Toys
In the interest of children’s health, San Francisco lawmakers attempted to ban McDonald’s from giving away toys with Happy Meals. However, McDonald’s lawyers found a loophole—they were able to offer the toys as an additional 10 cent purchase.In 2012, the Chilean government passed a law preventing fast-food restaurants from including free toys or other rewards with their meals.
A Child’s Feedback
At the 2013 annual McDonald’s shareholder meeting, nine-year-old Hannah Robertson spoke up, requesting that McDonald’s stop using toys and branding to convince kids to eat unhealthful food options.Despite the 520 calories and 20 grams of fat in a Happy Meal, McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson responded by telling the girl that McDonald’s does not sell junk food. This year, Robertson continued her campaign, sending a letter to encourage McDonald’s to stop using marketing tricks to push unhealthful food options.
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