Obesogens in Adolescence: Challenging Aspects and Prevention Strategies

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Endocrinology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a global epidemic driven by diet and inactivity.
• Emerging evidence implicates endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), specifically obesogens, in obesity development.
• Obesogens are environmental chemicals that disrupt metabolic processes and hormonal balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of environmental obesogens in childhood obesity.
• To explore obesogen sources, mechanisms, developmental impacts, and epigenetic effects.
• To discuss consequences of childhood obesity and propose prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of obesogens and childhood obesity.
• Analysis of obesogen mechanisms, including gene expression, hormonal interference, and inflammation.
• Examination of developmental exposure windows and epigenetic influences.

Main Results:

• Obesogens disrupt hormonal balance and metabolic processes.
• Exposure during critical developmental periods significantly increases obesity risk.
• Childhood obesity has severe long-term health and psychosocial consequences.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive approach addressing genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors is crucial for combating childhood obesity.
• Prevention strategies must include reducing obesogen exposure and promoting healthy lifestyles.
• Further research on obesogen-diet interactions, microbiome, and long-term human studies is needed.