What Are Obesogens?

Anyone who has tried to lose weight knows the frustration that comes with trying many different strategies just to see zero results. If you have experienced this, did you ever wonder why you were having so much trouble losing weight? There can be many reasons, like a thyroid condition or a hormone imbalance, PCOS, insulin resistance, and more. Have you ever wondered what causes these types of underlying conditions? It might be genetic, it could be associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, or it could be linked to obesogens. 

Today, we are going to talk about obesogens, what they are, how to avoid obesogens, what foods contain obesogens, where else they can be found, the damage they do, and how to detox from obesogens.

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What Are Obesogens?

Obesogens are sneaky chemicals that can cause your body to store fat or make it harder for you to lose weight. They interfere with the proper functioning of your hormones, which are the chemical messengers that help control your hunger, energy level, and how your body stores fat. 

They can slow down your metabolism, which means your body burns fewer calories than it should, and they can also make your fat cells grow bigger or increase the number of total fat cells you have. Some obesogens even influence your appetite and make you feel hungrier or cause cravings for unhealthy foods.

These chemicals can be found all around you, in the food you are eating, and in the products you are using every day. They can be hiding in packaged foods, plastic containers, fast food wrappers, makeup, cleaning supplies, tap water, and even some medications. You are being exposed to them without even realizing it, and this continued exposure can take a toll on your body and make it harder for you to maintain a healthy weight even if you eat a healthy diet and are physically active. 

Obesogens Thwart Your Weight Loss Efforts 

Obesogens work against your body’s natural balance and make it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it. They confuse your natural hormone balance and cause chaos in your body, and can make it virtually impossible to reach or maintain a healthy weight. 

Some Negative Effects of Obesogens

• They interfere with the hunger and fullness signals sent by your brain.
• They tell your body to store more fat.
• They can change how your fat cells grow and multiply.
• Some obesogens interfere with hormones like leptin and ghrelin, which help control your appetite. This can make you feel hungrier than you really are, or can make it so you never feel full.
• They slow down your metabolism.
• Certain chemical obesogens reduce your basal metabolic rate (BMR), or the number of calories your body burns when at rest, which means you have to work harder to lose weight.
• They can thwart even the best efforts and diminish or prevent results from diet, exercise, and other weight loss strategies.
• They increase inflammation and insulin resistance.

Even when you eat a healthy diet and exercise, obesogens can make weight loss slower or harder because they affect how your body responds to those healthy efforts. 

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Common Obesogens

Chemical Obesogens List

1. BPA and similar chemicals that are used in plastic bottles, lining cans, receipts, etc. 
2. Phthalates, which are found in cosmetics, vinyl products, etc.
3. Perfluorinated chemicals like PFOA, which are used in nonstick pans and cookware, etc. 
4. Organotins such as tributyltin, which are commonly found in paints, packaging, pesticides, etc.
5. Flame retardants are chemicals added to furniture, mattresses, electronics, and even some baby products to slow down or stop fires. They were designed to help with fire safety, but many of these chemicals do not stay in or on the products and slowly leak into the air, which means you can breathe them in or absorb them through your skin without realizing it.
6. Parabens are a group of chemicals that are often used to keep products from going bad, especially in things like shampoos, lotions, makeup, and even some foods.
7. Alkylphenols are used in some industrial products, detergents, plastics, and even cosmetics.
8. PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are created when things burn, like coal, oil, gas, wood, or even meat cooked on a grill. They are found in air pollution, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and sometimes in charred foods. 

Foods That Contain Obesogens

Some foods contain obesogens, and some are contaminated by the materials they are packaged in. Foods that contain obesogens are usually highly processed, packaged, or made with chemicals that your body was not designed to metabolize in large amounts. Some common examples include:

• Fast food and takeout food, as well as their wrappers and containers, often have chemicals like PFAS (used to keep grease from soaking through).
• Microwave popcorn, which includes artificial flavoring and coloring, and the bags often contains PFAS.
• Canned foods, as many cans are lined with BPA. Acidic foods like tomatoes are more likely to leach higher volumes of these chemicals, so purchasing these in glass is recommended.
• Fatty meats and farmed fish can contain traces of flame retardants, pesticides, or other pollutants stored in animal fat.
• Non-organic fruits and vegetables are sprayed with certain pesticides that contain these chemicals.
• Processed snacks and sugary drinks contain additives, dyes, or preservatives that can affect metabolism and appetite signals. Companies sometimes add these chemicals deliberately to create addictions to these foods.
• Processed foods high in fructose, like fruit juice, soda, honey, agave syrup, etc. 
• Ultraprocessed snacks are often packed in plastics that leach obesogens.

Obesogenic Medications

Certain prescription drugs can act as obesogenic medications, meaning they may lead to weight gain. In fact, weight gain is often listed as a possible side effect right in the medication’s included literature. Some medications that are known to cause weight gain include:  

• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants (like SSRIs)
• Sulfonylureas
• Steroids
• Anti-Seizure Medication 
• Beta‑blockers

How Convenience Created an Obesogenic Society

As recently as sixty years ago, life was very different when it came to food and the environment in which we live. Our ancestors ate food that was much closer to how nature made it, like whole foods that were fresh, simple, and free from most of the chemicals and additives we see today. The air was cleaner, the water purer, and people lived in places with fewer man-made pollutants. Farming was often local and seasonal, and people canned or froze their food for later use because there were fewer options for processing and packaging.

As technology changed, the goal became to make life easier and more convenient for people while food companies made money. Foods were made to last longer, be faster to prepare, and be cheaper to buy, but in the process, many unhealthy chemicals, preservatives, and artificial ingredients were added. Convenience packaging and fast food became available everywhere, and with them came more exposure to obesogens and processed sugars.

Meanwhile, family life changed as well, and it became more common and necessary for both adults in the household to work full-time just to keep up with bills and daily expenses, which left very little time to cook healthy meals, so families gravitated toward convenience and grabbed unhealthy fast food, processed foods, and snacks. This quick and easy life that was supposed to save us time, that technology promised, has made things harder and more unhealthy for most people. We have less time, more stress, and food and products that are causing obesity and a host of medical health conditions. 

Our Obesogenic Environment

Some of the things that are promoting our obesogenic environment, making healthy choices harder, and causing weight gain include:  

• Processed and packaged foods that are full of added sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients.
• Cheap fast food that is easy to grab but usually high in calories and low in nutrition.
• Chemicals in plastics and containers, like BPA and PFAS, interfere with our natural hormones and prevent our bodies from functioning properly.
• Busy lifestyles that leave little time to cook, get enough exercise, or get enough proper rest.
• Lack of access to fresh food, especially in low-income or urban areas.
• Sedentary habits, like sitting all day at a desk or in front of a screen.
• Constant marketing of junk food, especially to our children.
• Less physical activity built into daily life, like walking to school or working outdoors.
• Exposure to pollutants and toxins, including flame retardants, pesticides, and air pollution.
• Sleep problems and stress, which can affect our appetites and how well our metabolism works.

• An overabundance of built spaces that do not encourage walking, biking, or outdoor play. 

How to Avoid Obesogens

It will take significant effort on your part to detox from obesogens, and sadly, there is no way to avoid them all, but you can limit your exposure by making some changes to your lifestyle and the foods and products you buy. 

Some Things You Can Do to Limit Exposure to Obesogens

1. Avoid using plastic and use glass or steel containers for food and water. 
2. Toss out any nonstick pans that contain PFOA or PFAS, and choose cleaner alternatives.
3. Purchase organic produce to reduce your exposure to pesticide chemicals.
4. Use natural cleaning and personal care products that are free from phthalates, parabens, or other obesogens. 
5. Avoid ultra‑processed foods and sweetened drinks that are high in sugar and fructose. 
6. Shop local organic farmers’ markets, and freeze or preserve fresh produce for off-season use in mason jars using a safe, proven canning process. 

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Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Avoid Exposure To Obesogens

Wash All Your Produce

Even organic fruits and vegetables can carry dirt, bacteria, or leftover pesticide residue. Cleaning them properly before you store them can help cut down on your exposure. 

• Rinse with cold water under the faucet for at least 30 seconds.
• Use a soft brush to clean the outside of firm produce like potatoes, apples, and cucumbers.
• You can make a natural cleaning rinse by mixing 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water. Let the produce soak for a few minutes, then rinse with clean water.
• For leafy green veggies, peel off the outer leaves and swish in a bowl of water.

Continually Ventilate Indoor Spaces

• Fresh air helps remove airborne chemicals like VOCs (volatile organic compounds), formaldehyde, or fumes from cleaning products.
• Open your windows when you can, even if only for 15–30 minutes a day.
• Use your exhaust fan when you are cooking or cleaning.
• Crack a window while using candles, sprays, or new furniture that may give off invisible but harmful gases. 
• Run an air purifier with a HEPA and carbon filter.

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

You may not realize that many indoor items release chemicals into the air in your home that you are breathing every day.

• Avoid synthetic air fresheners and scented candles and use beeswax candles or essential oil diffusers instead.
• Use green or non-toxic cleaners that are fragrance-free and contain no harsh chemicals.
• Choose furniture and mattresses made without flame retardants or stain guards.
• Do not smoke indoors, and limit your use of things like incense.
• Add houseplants like snake plants or pothos to help improve your air quality naturally. 

Lifestyle Habits That Can Help You Detox from Obesogens

Our bodies can store obesogens in our fat tissue, so to gradually reduce or rid your body of the buildup of these chemicals, you can: 

1. Eat a clean diet full of whole foods, including those high in antioxidants, which help keep your liver, kidneys, and lungs strong so they can work at peak performance to filter out these unwanted chemicals.
2. Make sure you stay very well hydrated because this helps flush toxins out of your system. 
3. Get plenty of exercise to keep your built-in waste elimination systems working better. 

Keep Your Pathways Clean

Your liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive system all help remove toxins from your body. These organs filter and flush out things like chemicals, pollutants, or waste from food and medications that your body cannot or was not designed to use. 

Exercising and moving your body helps improve your circulation, and more blood gets to your liver and kidneys, which helps them remove these undesirables from your system more efficiently. Daily exercise also keeps your digestive process working like it should and helps regulate your hormones.

Sweat Out Toxins

Every time you exercise and sweat, some toxins leave your body through your skin. Your sweat contains water, salt, and small amounts of chemicals like heavy metals or BPA, and even though sweat is not your main detox system, it can still help reduce the buildup of certain obesogens. Sauna sessions can also help you release toxins through sweat. If you try sauna sessions, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and start with short 10 to 20 minute sessions. 

Work With Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Centers To Overcome Weight Loss Challenges

Often, underlying conditions caused by genetics, medical conditions, or obesogens can make losing weight impossible on your own. The good news is that Dr. Steven Batash and his team of professionals offer medical interventions that can help you reach your weight loss goals without having to undergo invasive surgery. 

Today, there are prescription weight loss medications and non-surgical procedures that can limit the amount of food you are able to eat, which can help you lose weight. Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Centers offers both temporary and permanent weight loss tools, such as gastric balloons, Suture Sculpt endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), and Suture Resculpt, which can start or help you resume your weight loss journey and successfully reach your goals. 

Set up your consultation today to learn more about how we can help you with knowledge to understand how your body responds to different weight loss strategies, identify and overcome underlying issues that have thwarted your previous weight loss efforts, and help you achieve sustainable weight loss and improve your health. 

When you need help with weight loss, the experts at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Centers understand the complexities of weight loss, and you can trust them to provide you with proven strategies and unprecedented support. Book your consultation today!

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