What is the Origin of Obesogen Hypothesis?

The concept emerged from toxicological and epidemiological studies observing a correlation between exposure to specific synthetic chemicals and increased body weight or adiposity in both animal models and human populations. The term 'obesogen' is a portmanteau of 'obesity' and '-gen,' meaning 'producer of.' This hypothesis challenges the traditional view of obesity as solely a matter of energy intake versus expenditure.

What is the Mechanism of Obesogen Hypothesis?

Obesogens exert their effects by acting as endocrine disruptors, often binding to or interfering with nuclear hormone receptors like the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ), which is a master regulator of fat cell development. By activating these receptors, the chemicals promote the commitment of precursor cells into mature adipocytes, leading to an increase in the number and size of fat cells, a process known as adipogenesis. Furthermore, they can alter the sensitivity to key metabolic hormones, such as insulin and leptin, thereby promoting a state of chronic energy imbalance and weight gain.

Obesogen Hypothesis

Meaning

A scientific proposition suggesting that certain environmental chemicals, termed obesogens, can promote weight gain and metabolic dysfunction by disrupting the normal regulation of lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. These exogenous agents, often endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), can interfere with hormonal signaling pathways that control appetite, satiety, energy expenditure, and the differentiation of fat cells. The hypothesis posits that exposure, particularly during critical developmental windows, contributes to the current global epidemic of obesity.