Chubby little kids used to be just that – chubby little kids. Big deal. But research in recent years has shown that childhood obesity can lead to serious health problems. The common solution is to try to get the kids to eat less and play more – which, in many cases, simply doesn’t work. Is there hope on the horizon? Yes. A new study has discovered a link between obesity and phthalates – the chemicals used to make children’s toys, personal care products, the PVC vinyl used as waterproof coverings on baby crib mattresses, and many other things that are part of our everyday lives.
How much of a problem is childhood obesity? In the U.S., on average, 30% of children are overweight or obese. In some states the numbers are much higher. In Mississippi, for example, nearly half of the kids have a weight problem.
Not only can this be very hard on a child socially by interfering with relationships and self-esteem, it also increases the risk of heart disease, asthma, liver problems and diabetes. It’s really worth doing something about.
How do phthalates fit into the picture?
As we have covered in several other blog posts, check Phthalates Effect Hormonal Development in Little Girls and Increase Risk of Health Problems in Later Life for more info on what they can do to little girls, phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means they affect the glands and hormones that regulate many bodily functions, including those relating to fat metabolism.
Several animal studies have shown mice to become obese when exposed to endocrine disruptors. But the new study on 400 girls aged 9 to 11 has now linked endocrine disruptors – specifically, phthalates – to obesity in humans.
To investigate the link, researchers measured the girls’ exposure to phthalates through urine testing. According Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, one of the lead researchers on the study and professor of pediatrics at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center, the girls with the highest exposure to phthalates were also the most overweight.
Dr. Landrigan told the New York Times that even though there is some recognition of the role chemicals play in childhood obesity, it is generally thought of as a ‘calories eaten vs. calories burned’ issue. Dr. Landrigran thinks the link to chemicals may be far more significant.
The evidence of the health consequences of chemicals in our everyday lives is mounting. Pesticides, fire-retardants, phthalates – they are everywhere. In some cases they’re used for convenience; in others we’re told they’re necessary to protect us.
At Naturepedic we don’t use those chemicals in our baby crib mattresses. But we meet and exceed government health and safety regulations. And there are hundreds of companies that do the same with their various products.
So … are the chemicals really necessary? In light of all the recent research, they are doing more harm than good. For the health of your children, check out Naturepedic toddler and baby crib mattresses – the kids spend a lot of time there so it’s a good place to start – then do what you can to get phthalates and other harmful chemicals out of the house!
