What Are Obesogens? And How Can You Avoid Them?

10 Feb What Are Obesogens? And How Can You Avoid Them?

Posted at 15:19h in Advice by

Obesogens are toxic chemicals in our environment that can sabotage your weight and your health. We live in a toxic world and sadly we are exposed daily to countless synthetic chemicals in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. There’s a wide range of different ways that these chemicals negatively impact our health and even contribute to weight gain. So what exactly are they and how can you avoid them sabotaging your weight loss?

WHAT ARE OBESOGENS?

Obesogens are a class of chemicals that can disrupt the normal function of hormones in the body, leading to an increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders. These chemicals are found in a variety of everyday products, including plastics, food containers, personal care products, and pesticides.

When obesogens enter the body, they can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate appetite and metabolism, leading to weight gain and other health issues. Some of the most well-known obesogens include bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

HOW TO OBESOGENS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN?

Obesogens can interfere with the body’s regulation of appetite, metabolism and fat storage and can affect the body in several ways. One way is by disrupting the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormones throughout the body. Obesogens can mimic or block the actions of hormones, interfering with the normal signaling processes that control appetite, metabolism, and fat storage.

For example, bisphenol A (BPA), which is found in many plastics and food containers, has been shown to disrupt the function of the hormone leptin, which regulates appetite and fat storage. By interfering with leptin signaling, BPA can lead to overeating and increased fat storage.

In addition to affecting hormone signaling, obesogens can also alter the way that the body metabolises and stores fat. Some obesogens can promote the differentiation of adipocytes (fat cells), leading to an increase in the number of fat cells in the body. Others can interfere with the body’s ability to burn fat, promoting an accumulation of body fat.

HOW DO I AVOID OBESOGENS?

Obesogenic chemicals are in many of the products we use and foods we eat on a day to day basis. While it’s virtually impossible to completely avoid them, being aware of where these chemicals hide can help you minimise your exposure. Below we’ll take a look at some of the most common obesogens and look at some practical, obesogen-free alternatives.

HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS

Some household cleaning products contain chemicals that have been shown to have obesogenic effects, such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Choose natural household cleaners and washing up liquid and avoid synthetic air fresheners. Method products work well and smell great. Ecover are a good, widely available brand too.

ORGANIC FOOD

Eat organic wherever possible. Pesticides are, by their very nature, toxic and designed to kill living organisms. They have also been found to have several obesogenic effects. Their effects include disrupting hormones, negatively altering the gut microbiome, promote inflammation and alter energy metabolism. They are not carefully washed off produce before we eat it. Many foods contain pesticide residues and they are no good for our health, or the environment. Investing in organic food is very much worth it. Veg box companies like Riverford make seasonal, organic eating really easy. If you’re not in a position to buy all organic, the ‘clean fifteen and dirty dozen‘ can help you identify what to prioritise. 

TAP WATER

One of the main sources of obesogens in tap water is thought to be the presence of industrial chemicals and pesticides that can contaminate groundwater and surface water. Studies have found phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are present in tap water. Fluoride and disinfection byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs) present in tap water may also have obesogenic effects. Unfortunately, popular filters like Britta jugs and those installed in fridges aren’t much use in filtering out these contaminants. Use a carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Many nutritionists recommend Berkey. Zero water filters are countertop jugs that do a much better job than Britta.  

COSMETICS

Use natural cosmetics. The synthetic chemicals we put on our skin get absorbed straight into our system. Natural cosmetics are now more affordable and more widely available than ever. Faith In Nature is a widely available brand of hand and body washes, soaps, shampoos and conditioners based on natural, non toxic ingredients. You can purchase Faith In Nature from Natural Dispensary using our client discount code: PEARSON10.

ALCOHOL

Cut back on drinking alcohol. There’s no denying that alcohol is toxic for the body, as I’m sure you’re already well aware. Hangovers are the result of poisoning our body. The government recommends we drink no more than 14 units a week, equivalent to avoid six to seven average size, average strength drinks. Read more about the impact of alcohol on our weight here.

COOKWARE

Use non-toxic cookware. The ‘forever chemicals’ in our cookware can leach out into our food. Avoid anything coated in Teflon or PFAS. Cast iron, stainless steel, non toxic ceramic and glass are safest for our health and the planet. GreenLife non-toxic cookware is available on Amazon. Their 16 piece cookware set is currently on sale for £135.

KITCHEN STORAGE

Avoid cling film and plastic food containers. EDCs, para-Nonylphenol (p-NP); Bisphenol A (BPA); Di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and phthalates are all chemicals used in cling film that can migrate to the food they touch. Researchers explain that these chemicals have been linked to reproductive and developmental effects and liver toxicity, as well as being carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Try reusable beeswax wraps instead of cling film and switch from plastic storage containers to glass. Always buy olive oil and other fats in glass bottles.

While there might seem like a lot to consider here, most of these are simple swaps that are easy to stick with once you’ve switched over. 

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LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

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Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

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Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

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INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

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ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

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