Does chemical exposure play a role in obesity and diabetes?

摘要

In the last three years both US and EU regulators have launched research programmes to examine the link between environmental chemicals and obesity and diabetes. But what are the reasons behind this increased attention? Laura Greenhalgh reports. Obesity has risen sharply in recent decades, with worldwide prevalence of the disease doubling since 1980, according to the World Health Organization. Te increase in countries such as the UK and the US has been particularly apparent in children, with nearly 17% of the US population between 2 and 19 years now considered obese. A similar increase has been seen in the associated disease, type 2 diabetes, for which obesity is a signifcant risk factor (see box).