Chemicals found in plastic food containers could be making kids fat and diabetic.
A recent study linked phthalates to an increased insulin resistance in children, which can lead to diabetes. A second study found bisphenol A (BPA) made kids more likely to be overweight or obese, Healthday reported.
Phthalates are used to "soften and increase the flexibility of plastics and vinyl." BPA is used to in the production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, it is often found in aluminum cans.
"There is increasing concern that environmental chemicals might be independent contributors to childhood diseases related to the obesity epidemic," phthalates study author Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, said, according to Healthday. "Our research adds to these growing concerns."
In the phthalates study, researchers analyzed concentrations of the chemical in the urine of 766 kids between the ages of 12 and 19. They also looked at insulin resistance in the study subjects.
The researchers found insulin resistance increased with higher concentrations of a phthalate known as di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, even when other possible contributing factors were taken into account.
"There are lab studies suggesting these chemicals can influence how our bodies respond to glucose," Trasande said. "In particular, they are thought to influence genes that regulate release of insulin. There are other potential mechanisms, but that is the main mechanism of concern."
The BPA study also looked at concentrations of the chemical in urine, and found it had a correlation with higher obesity rates.
Researchers looked at samples from 3,300 kids between the ages of six and 18 to make the connection.
Dr. Hugh Taylor, chair of the Yale School of Medicine's department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences believes the obesity and diabetes rates could be linked to the food the plastic wrap contains, instead of solely the chemicals.
"It's probably more about the type of diet these kids are eating," Taylor said. "A move toward healthier natural food is always a good idea, not just because of the elimination of BPA and phthalates but for all the other health benefits. If we think about more common-sense eating of healthy foods that aren't packaged in a way that would introduce BPA and phthalates, we would be so much better off."
Trasande said in order to avoid contamination from BPA and phthalates, parents should avoid serving food wrapped in plastic labeled with the numbers three, six, or seven.
"I also advise families not to microwave plastics, hand wash plastic containers, and throw away plastic containers where there is etching or other damage to them," he said.
