Baby bottle chemical linked to obesity

A chemical banned from baby bottles has been linked to an increased risk of childhood obesity.

Children with high levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine are almost three times more likely to be obese than those with low levels, a study has found.

The chemical, widely used in food and drink packaging, is an “endocrine disrupter” that can have hormonal effects.

It is present in the environment at low, non-toxic levels. However, many experts believe constant exposure to it may be harmful, pointing to associations with heart disease, breast and prostate cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, and infertility.

Last year the EU banned BPA from polycarbonate feeding bottles intended for infants up to 12 months of age. The ban applies to all EU states.

In the latest study, scientists measured BPA levels in the urine of almost 3,000 children and teenagers aged six to 19.

Rates of obesity among those with the most BPA were 2.6 times higher than those with the least.

Among the participants with the highest levels, 22.3% were obese compared with 10.3% of children with the lowest levels.

“This is the first association of an environmental chemical in childhood obesity in a large nationally representative sample,” said lead scientist Dr Leonardo Trasande, from New York University.

“Our findings further demonstrate the need for a broader paradigm in the way we think about the obesity epidemic.”