Replacement of BPA on water bottles may not cause obesity: Study

Those common chemicals that manufacturers use to make plastic food containers, water bottles and other consumer products, instead of BPA, do not contribute to obesity, says a study.

Researchers from the University of Lowa showed that the chemicals, bisphenol F and bisphenol S (known as BPF and BPS) are being used increasingly by food packaging manufacturers as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA), which studies have found, disrupts endocrine systems and causes numerous health problems.

BPA is used in many kinds of packaging for snacks and drinks, canned foods and water bottles.

The chemical is absorbed into the body, mainly through the food or water it contacts in the container.

But, the concern was raised several years ago when numerous studies found BPA increases the risk of various health issues, in particular, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Manufacturers started reducing the use of BPA in some consumer products or even eliminating it in so-called "BPA-free" products by replacing it with such alternatives as BPF and BPS.

However, little is known about the potential impact of BPF and BPS exposure in humans.

The new University of Iowa College of Public Health study is the first to determine the health impacts of BPF and BPS exposure on obesity in humans.

Using data from a nationwide population-based study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the researchers confirm that BPA is associated with increased obesity in humans.

Future studies will be needed to confirm the results, as BPF and BPS are likely to replace BPA in more consumer products.

-ANI