A controversial new study conducted by author Dr. Leonardo Trasande of New York University suggests a strong connection between the BPA chemical commonly used in food packaging (particularly cans and bottles) and the risk of obesity in children.
Trasande was quick to point out that he and his teams’ findings do not prove that BPA is the cause of obesity in children but the results do show that “children with the highest levels [of BPA] in their urine were twice as likely to obese than those with the lowest.”
“Clearly unhealthy diet and poor physical activity are the leading factors contributing to obesity in the United States, especially in children,” said Trasande, while maintaining his belief that BPA may still contribute to a child’s risk.
The study, which was published in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association, is sparking a debate among other organizations. The American Chemistry Council called the study “speculative” and revealed that tests using animals found no link between BPA and obesity.
“Attempts to link our national obesity problem to minute exposures to chemicals found in common, everyday products are a distraction from the real efforts under way to address this important national health issue,” the organization said in a statement.
Regardless of the debate, popular companies like Campbell’s have recently announced that they will be phasing BPA out of their soup cans this year.
Do you think there’s a good possibility that BPA can double the risk of obesity in children?
Source: CTV News
