On May 11, 2018, the Science History Podcast published its sixth episode, focused on obesogenic chemicals. The podcast highlights “a neglected aspect of the obesity epidemic – the role played by exposure to toxic chemicals in our food, water, and the environment,” and features an interview with Bruce Blumberg, professor of developmental and cell biology, pharmaceutical sciences, and biomedical engineering at the University of California Irvine, U.S., who is a leading researcher in the field.

In an article published on May 22, 2018 by the newspaper The Guardian, editor Nicola Davis cited academic scientists who are critical of the concept of obesogenic chemicals. For example, Richard Sharpe from the Centre for Reproductive Biology at the Queen’s Medical Research Institute in Edinburgh, UK, stated: “While it’s not possible to dismiss the hypothesis that certain environmental chemicals to which we are exposed could perturb [or] reset body regulatory systems so as to predispose to obesity, I remain unconvinced that obesogens are likely to be important players in the obesity epidemic.” He added that “no matter how obesogens or anything else might reset energy regulatory systems, you cannot get fat unless you consume the calories.”

Read more

Science History Podcast (May 11, 2018). “Episode 6. Obesogenic chemicals: Interview with Bruce Blumberg.

Nicola Davis (May 22, 2018). “The truth about obesogens: Can dust and chemicals make you fat?The Guardian

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