Study Links BPA Substitutes to Childhood Obesity

Understanding BPA and Its Substitutes

A recent study has explored the potential connection between BPA substitutes and obesity in children and adolescents. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely utilized chemical found in plastic food containers, metal can linings, bottle caps, and water supply pipes. Due to its extensive usage, it was found that 93% of Americans aged six and older had detectable levels of BPA in their urine during the 2003-2004 period. BPA is recognized for disrupting the endocrine system, leading to initiatives aimed at reducing or eliminating its use in food containers.

In response, manufacturers have turned to BPA substitutes, including bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), which share structural similarities with BPA. Concerns have arisen that these substitutes may exhibit similar endocrine-disrupting effects, potentially contributing to obesity, particularly during critical developmental stages in childhood and adolescence.

The Research Study

Researchers at the NYU School of Medicine conducted a study recently published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. This study investigated the relationship between BPA, BPS, and BPF and the weight of children aged six to nineteen. The research utilized data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) collected between 2013 and 2016, analyzing information from 1,831 children. The dataset included demographics, exposure to tobacco smoke, television viewing time, caloric intake, and body mass index (BMI). The children’s weight was classified into categories such as obese, severely obese, abdominal obesity, or overweight.

Urine samples were tested for concentrations of BPA, BPS, and BPF.

Key Findings

The findings indicated a link between BPA substitutes and obesity in children and adolescents. Specifically, the study revealed an association between higher concentrations of BPS and increased rates of childhood obesity and severe obesity. Additionally, elevated levels of BPS and BPF correlated with greater abdominal obesity. Notably, children with higher BPF levels were more likely to be overweight; however, no significant relationship was observed between BPA levels and BMI.

Researchers caution against overinterpreting these results, as BPS and BPF are rapidly processed by the body, complicating long-term exposure assessments based on urine samples. Moreover, given that weight gain and obesity develop over extended periods, establishing a direct link between the concentrations of these chemicals and childhood BMI poses challenges.

Implications of the Study

The absence of a clear link between BPA and childhood obesity could be attributed to successful initiatives aimed at reducing or eliminating BPA from food packaging. As the usage of BPS has increased as a BPA alternative, researchers suggest this may explain the rising association between BPS and childhood obesity.

In a press release, study author Melanie Jacobsen, Ph.D., M.P.H., stated, “This research is significant because exposure to these chemicals is very common in the United States. BPS and BPF use is growing because manufacturers are replacing BPA with these chemicals, contributing to the frequency of exposure. Although diet and exercise are still understood to be the main drivers of obesity, this research suggests that common chemical exposures may also play a role, specifically among children.”

Recommendations for Parents

In light of these findings, parents are encouraged to choose BPA-free and BPA substitute-free containers for their children’s food. Additionally, fostering a healthy, balanced diet and ensuring that children engage in at least sixty minutes of physical activity each day can help maintain a healthy weight.

References

Jacobson M, Woodward M, Bao W, Liu B, Trasande L. Urinary bisphenols and obesity prevalence among US children and adolescents. J Endocr Soc. 2019. doi:10.1210/js.2019-00201.
CLARITY-BPA Program. Ntp.niehs.nih.gov. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/results/areas/bpa/index.html. Published 2019. Accessed July 26, 2019.