New research has linked Bisphenol A, the chemical found in the lining of items such as baby bottles and canned food, to the production of fat cells in mice.
A study presented at the says that mice born to mothers who had been exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) while pregnant grew to be overweight in adulthood compared to mice born to mothers who were not exposed to the chemical. The heavier mice also showed changes in genes that are related to weight regulation.
"This study indicates that developmental exposure to this chemical prior to and just after birth can exert a long lasting influence on body weight regulation," Beverly Rubin, a neuroendocrinologist at Tufts University in Massachusetts and a member of the research team, said in a statement.
The mice were exposed to levels of BPA similar to levels that the average human is exposed to.
Both sets of mice ate the same amount of food, so the research team believes that the BPA may encourage the growth of fat cells.
However, scientists need to determine if these findings apply to human beings. If so, public health campaigns would have to shift their focus from treating obesity in adulthood to preventing it before a person is even born.
BPA has been in the headlines in Canada in recent weeks. Last month, the federal government announced that it may soon move to restrict the chemical's use.
BPA is found in many household items, and it has been proven to leach out of the linings of food containers when they are heated to high temperatures.
In studies, the chemical has shown to be an endocrine disruptor, meaning it influences hormone levels in the body. It has been linked to a variety of health complications, from fertility problems to some forms of cancer.
