BPA substitutes may contribute to weight gain and obesity

A recently published study from NYU School of Medicine found that two substitute chemicals for BPA,  BPS and BPF, may contribute to childhood weight gain and obesity. Researched analyzed data from NHANES which measured urinary BPS, BPF, and BPA in over 1,800 children and adolescents. Over 87 percent of participants had detectable concentrations of BPS and 55.2 percent had detectable concentrations of BPF. Researchers also found that as BPS concentration increased, so did the likelihood the child was obese. Additionally, they found that BPF was significantly associated with being overweight and with abdominal obesity. Bishpenol chemicals, which mimic the hormone estrogen and can affect the endocrine system, typically enter the body through leaching out of food and beverage containers and can also be absorbed through the skin. BPS and BPF have been increasingly used as BPA has declined due to public awareness and demand.