Scientists from the University of Granada in Spain discovered that a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA), widely used in durable plastic products, may be an indirect cause of obesity in children. Research results published In ASM (American Society for Microbiology) Journals.
In the study, researchers collected health information from more than a hundred children ages five to ten to identify gut bacteria associated with bisphenol A. It turns out that exposure to this chemical can negatively affect the gut microbiome, reducing the bacterial diversity within it. .
Normal-weight children had an overall more diverse, enriched and structured gut bacterial network than overweight and obese subjects, the researchers noted. Scientists have suggested that exposure to bisphenol A causes changes in the taxonomic composition of the microbiota. This chemical in particular may support the development of obesity-associated microbial communities in the gut. It is stated that the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity and some metabolic disorders.
According to the scientists, their research could contribute to changing government policies in different countries regarding plastic production and use. Such potential interventions could reduce the rate of childhood obesity worldwide.
Previously recognizedWhether excess weight is hereditary.