Chemicals in shampoo may make you fat!

Scientists at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York suggest that pthalates, a chemical ingredient present in 70 percent of the beauty products, including shampoo, body lotions, and soaps, interferes with body's mechanism to control weight.

Researchers anticipate that these chemicals could be 'endocrine disruptors' that disturb hormone system in animals ( including humans) and increase the chances of childhood obesity and weight gain in maturity.

Endocrine disruptors "interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body that are responsible for development, behavior, fertility, and maintenance of homeostasis (normal cell metabolism).

Study details and findings
To reach the conclusion, the researchers measured the exposure of pthalates in 330 girls living in the inner city area of East Harlem, New York, by analysing their urine samples.

Phthalates have been widely used as gelling agents in cosmetics, cleaning products, and to make plastic bottles for more than half a century, but it has now only come to light that it there may be possible health risks.

Lead researcher and pediatrician Professor Philip Landrigan said that the urine test proved that most of the overweight girls had highest levels of pthalates in their body.

“The heaviest girls have the highest levels of pthalates in their urine. It goes up as the children get heavier, but it's most evident in the heaviest kids,” Landrigan averred.

The researchers also warn against Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical present in food containers, baby bottles, pizza boxes, reciepts, as it is found to be rich in 'chemical calories'.

How cosmetics make you fat?
According to Zoe Harcombe, nutritionist and author of the 'Obesity Epidemic,' even the slightest disruption to hormone levels can have a negative effect on someone trying to lose weight.

"In men, phthalates and other chemicals have an anti-testosterone capacity that has been linked to obesity.

"In women they mess up our basic genetic hormone balance so that you get disruptions similar to those that might occur during the menopause or at puberty," she added.

Pediatrician Maida Galvez, who was a part of the study, suggests that one should limit the use of pthalates or replace them with fragrance free and organic products in order to benefit from exercise and healthy dieting.

Similar research in past
Findings of the present research are backed by a 2002 study carried out by researchers at the Stirling University in Scotland.

Paula Baillie-Hamilton, who lead the study, wrote, “Overlooked in the obesity debate is that the earth's environment has changed significantly during the last few decades because of the exponential production and usage of synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals.”