What are obesogens and why should I care?

Do you struggle to lose weight, no matter how hard you exercise or how well you eat? Do you experience symptoms related to estrogen dominance such as breast tenderness, headaches, weight gain, water retention, irregular periods, decreased sex drive, mood swings, fatigue, insomnia, or memory loss? (More serious conditions, such as endometriosis, osteoporosis, thyroid disease, and fibroids, have also been linked to estrogen dominance.)

If you answered YES to any of the above, you may be suffering from the effects of a lifetime of exposure to a class of chemical toxins known as obesogens or xenoestrogens.*

Obesogens are inherent in many of the chemical compounds used to make plastics, cosmetics, fragrances, pesticides, household cleaners, and dry cleaning products and have been found to disrupt the way our bodies metabolize fat. So far there are dozens of common chemicals that have been linked to weight gain. And there are thousands that haven’t yet been tested.

Xenoestrogens are estrogen mimicking chemical obesogens that disrupt the balance of hormones in our bodies. We are exposed to these everyday in our food, air, and water, as well as all the every day household items mentioned above. 

Unless you were raised on another planet, you have most certainly been exposed to obesogens and xenoestrogens and are undoubtedly being affected by them. While many of the negative physical experiences we have as women are often waved off as “female problems,” the natural and unavoidable results of peri/menopause, or PMS, the truth is your natural hormonal fluctuations and fat metabolism are being turned upside down by an unending stream of toxic chemicals. You are experiencing a perfect storm in your own body.

The symptoms you are experiencing are not a natural part of being a woman, and we can get relief without taking harmful drugs and medicines. 

Get your health and hormones back on track by reducing your exposure to obesogens and xenoestrogens. Share on Twitter

The Environmental Working Group is the best site I have found for finding out how to reduce your exposure to both obesogens and xenoestrogens, and what products are safe to use. Learning how to avoid these toxic chemicals is one of the most important steps you can take for preventing and healing many of the issues and ailments associated with peri/menopause.

*People of all ages are affected by exposure to these chemical compounds – men, women, children, and fetuses.