For the first time, prominent obesity researchers and clinicians have acknowledged the potential role of environmental chemicals in the obesity public health crisis. Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS) — a program of Environmental Health Sciences, which publishes EHN.org — hosted a workshop last fall on obesogens, environmental chemicals that could interfere with our bodies hormones, increasing the likelihood of weight gain. Scientists examining the role of obesogens have been frustrated by the lack of interest, understanding and impact of their work by other obesity researchers, who have largely focused on the role of diet and exercise in weight gain. Thus, HEEDS developed a two-day workshop inviting clinicians to meet with obesogen researchers and discuss the causes of obesity with a focus on obesogens. A free copy of the workshop summary , just published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is available until July 30.

Source: New York Times June 21, 2023 09:39 UTC