ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND OBESITY

Porast prevalencije debljine postaje ozbiljan globalni javnozdravstveni problem. Osim nezdrave prehrane i smanjene tjelesne aktivnosti, razni kemijski spojevi koji se nalaze svuda oko nas mogu biti jedan od etioloških čimbenika razvoja debljine i njezine rastuće prevalencije. Kemijski spojevi koji ometaju rad hormonskog sustava čovjeka nazivaju se endokrini disruptori. U tu skupinu spadaju obezogeni koji ometaju normalan razvoj masnog tkiva i ravnotežu metabolizma lipida. Obezogeni su sastavni dio kozmetike, elektronike, plastike, ali se nalaze i u zraku, vodi i hrani koju svakodnevno konzumiramo. Razdoblje ranog razvoja (in utero, novorođenčad) najosjetljiviji je period pa izloženost ploda obezogenima tijekom njega putem mlijeka ili preko posteljice može biti predisponirajući čimbenik za razvoj debljine u odrasloj dobi. S gledišta suočavanja s epidemijom debljine posebno je važno uspostaviti kontrolu nad obezogenima i pokušati spriječiti ili barem ograničiti izloženost ljudi, posebice djece i trudnica, tim opasnim spojevima.The increasing prevalence of obesity is a global public health problem. In addition to unhealthy diet and ­reduced physical activity various chemical compounds that are found all around us may be one of the etiological factors of obesity development and its increased prevalence. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with the endocrine system. Obesogens are a subclass of endocrine disruptors that can disrupt normal development of adipose tissue and ­homeostasis of lipid metabolism. Obesogens can be found in cosmetics, electronics, plastic, but also in air, water and food that people consume. Early development (in utero, newborns) is the most vulnerable period for obesogen exposure. Developmental exposure to obesogens occurs through maternal diet and interaction with products that can cross the placental barrier or are transmitted through breast milk. In terms of dealing with the epidemic of obesity, it is of particular importance to establish control over obesogens and try to prevent or at least limit the exposure of people, especially children and pregnant women, to these dangerous compounds