I came across some interesting research the other day concerning the potential role of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in regulating weight.
BPA is a chemical that is found in several plastics and plastic additives. It’s in the water bottles folks carry to gyms and in the baby bottles moms use to feed their infants. And it’s in almost all of our bodies. A CDC study in 2007 found that 92% of 2,500 subjects studies had detectable amounts of BPA in their urine.
A study published in 2002 by Masuno and colleagues demonstrated that relatively small amounts of BPA significantly reduced insulin sensitivity and accelerated the formation of adipocytes (fat cells). In other words, BPA made the mice fat.
Not only did BPA trigger the conversion of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes, it also stimulated the conversion process once triggering had occurred. This “double-whammy” effect caused a 1,300% increase in fat levels, compared with a 150% increase with insulin alone. The worldwide obesity epidemic has been primarily explained in terms of poor diet, decreases in exercise, and other lifestyle factors. (I am planning a future series on weight loss, so stay tuned!) However, this research raises the possibility that hormone-disrupting contaminants such as BPA may play a role in regulating weight.
Health authorities in the US make the claim that the levels of BPA found in most humans are not a risk to human health. However, researchers working in the field have a different view. Ample evidence suggests that BPA can harm lab animals at concentrations below those already occurring in most people.
A report (PDF) published in Reproductive Toxicology by 38 scientists evaluated the strength of data from more than 700 BPA studies.
The panel concluded that BPA exposure in the womb permanently alters the genes of animals, impairs the function of organs in ways that persist into adulthood, and triggers brain, behavioral, and reproductive effects, including diminished sperm production. Effects deemed likely included a heightened sensitivity to carcinogens, impaired immunity, and diminished insulin sensitivity.
Although the jury is still out on BPA’s ability to cause weight gain in humans, I think the consequences of obesity and the diseases it’s linked to far outweigh the “convenience” of drinking out of plastic water bottles. Of course there are several other reasons not to use plastic water bottles, including the waste they generate and their harmful effect on oceans and sea life.
So do yourself and the planet a favor: get a stainless steel water bottle, and abstain from drinking bottled water! I like the Klean Kanteen brand, but there are many others.
It has also been shown that polycarbonate baby bottles heated by microwave leach BPA into milk fed to infants. So Moms, please don’t heat those bottles in the microwave!
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Please update your admonishment to “Moms” not to heat baby’s bottles in the microwave to at least “parents,” if not “caregivers”! Yeesh.
just a quick update for readers about a year ago i was able to do 40minutes on a tredmill …. as a health consious person at the time i weighed my self 1st thing in the morning then before i was about to shower after gym ….. each and everytime i took a bottle of water with me i gained 1.6lb when i didnt take water with me i was exactly same weight as i woke up …. something happening
what water are we filling the stainless bottle with? reverse osmosis best to get rid of potential tap contaminants?
That’s a good choice. We use an aquasana water filter.
Reverse Osmosis is a good idea. The filter is tight enough that if the molecule is larger than that of water, it does not get through the filter. The best Reverse Osmosis machines use a high pressure injection pump to get the water through the filter. High pressure pump, being one that would be used to inject water back into a power plant boiler for steam production. The Reverse Osmosis units sold for home use are still a good idea to have, and to use. As for plastic bottles, look for those that do not use BPA in their material.
obviously – ban BPA and other chemicals from products – problem solved …
Once the BPA has been removed, does the weight gain stop? Is the weight gain permanent? Interestingly enough, my son was (plastic) bottle fed from 4+ months (due to circumstances beyond my control) and my daughter was breast fed (no bottle, ever) until she told me she was ready to wean at 9 months. My son has always had a weight problem and my daughter is as slim as ever. Any suggestions for reversing this effect?
Once the BPA has been removed, does the weight gain stop? Is the weight gain permanent? Interestingly enough, my son was (plastic) bottle fed from 4+ months (due to circumstances beyond my control) and my daughter was breast fed (no bottle, ever) until she told me she was ready to wean at 9 months. My son has always had a weight problem and my daughter is as slim as ever. Any suggestions for reversing this effect?
H. Masuno et al, “Bisphenol A in Combination with Insulin Can Accelerate the Conversion of 3T3-L1 Fibroblasts to Adipocytes,” Journal of Lipid Research 43:676-684, May 2002.
This is the abstract of the experiment that found that there is a 1300% increase in fat levels.
Thanks for the article, but what’s the source of this,
Not only did BPA trigger the conversion of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes, it also stimulated the conversion process once triggering had occurred. This “double-whammy” effect caused a 1,300% increase in fat levels, compared with a 150% increase with insulin alone.
?
Paleofriend,
The mouse picture is from Jenny Ruhl’s book “Blood Sugar 101”, on p.36. I believe it comes originally from an article by Janet Raloff published in Science News on 9/29/07 called Do Common Plastics and Resins Carry Risks?
Hi Chris, good post, but there seems to be something wrong with the link in the following paragraph (or is it just my browser (Chrome)?):
“A report (PDF) published in Reproductive Toxicology by 38 scientists evaluated the strength of data from more than 700 BPA studies.”
From which study is the picture with the two mice?
The water bottles portrayed in your post are PET (polyethylene terephthalate). PET doesn’t have BPA but the jury is still out as to the safety of PET as this Discovery article points out but many people believe PET is much safer than the hard clear BPA plastics.
I didn’t see that report, Daniel. In general I think it’s wise to minimize BPA exposure to the extent that we can. Some is unavoidable.
Receipts can be printed without using BPA – no problem. My local health foods store has BPA-free receipts. They don’t look any different. As they say, “it all comes out the same.” :J
There is no reason to use BPA except to feminize the male population (yes, I am suggesting this chemical emasculation is intentional – it takes so many other forms).
How many more years (or decades) will BPA continue to line the inside of canned foods and countless other products, and how many more studies will have to come out that demonstrate how harmful it is before you recognize that it is no accident?
I could say the same about water fluoridation – how many decades will it take? I could say the same about soy formula. Or soy prisons, for that matter. Or nuclear power and the low-dose radiation we are all exposed to (LDR is not LDN).
How many more years will our loving government (lov-gov) have to shoot up our children with mercury, aluminum, MSG, and many other little-known nasties, and rely on water fluoridation to supercharge the toxicity of the vaccines and to calcify our pineal glands – before you become aware that it is done intentionally? Do you know that the presence of F helps Al across the BBB 600 times more easily than if it is absent?
Will Monsanto have to buy up the remainder of the Midwest and complete its genetic coup d’etwat of the the oceans with its killer Frankensalmon before you become a conspiracy theorist?
In my heart of hearts I know that in time everyone will be a conspiracy theorist. It is just a question of whether we can do something about it.
As Alex Jones says (and he, too, may be a disinfo agent – he refuses to respond on distilled water):
“All you people that have been living in denial out there: you are going to wake up later. The only question is…will it be too late?”
John Hingson, thanks so much for your post! Couldn’t have said it better myself..
What do you make of that report that came out last fall about credit card receipts and BPA? I’ve been wary of receipts since then, but haven’t heard any follow up… Thanks, Dan