lunchablesA new study reports that the chemicals utilized in food packaging could have the negative impact of increasing obesity and pre-diabetes risk in children. According to the findings of the study, the risk of insulin resistance could be raised by phthalates, while the risk of obesity could be increased by BPA or A. Approximations presented by the CDC show that about 66% of all people residing in the United States are obese. Studies conducted earlier led to the finding that there was a higher diabetes risk in women exposed to phthalate. A research was also carried out on rhesus monkeys and it was found that some BPA could result in the shortening of the reproductive lifespan and even lead to birth defects.

The body is said to be insulin resistant when it is not able to use insulin. It is especially difficult to detect pre-diabetes in children because it us usually asymptomatic. Some of the risk factors for pre-diabetes and insulin resistance are inadequate physical activity, excess weight, sleep and hormonal-related problems. For the study in question, research was conducted on a total of 766 adolescents between the age of 12 and 19. The subjects used for the study were part of the health and nutrition survey carried out between the year 2003 and 2008. The study found that when children were exposed to a specific phthalate known as Di-2-ethylhexyphthalate, there was an increased risk of insulin resistance development. Scientists added that the drivers of this epidemic are lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet. Possible contributors are environmental chemicals. A related study conducted by researchers from Michigan University revealed that children exposed to high levels of BPA had a high obesity risk.