Environmental Contributions to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

current obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) epidemics are a growing concern as prevalence is predicted to rise over the next few decades. Due to this growing burden a more complex understanding of the factors causing obesity and T2DM, including environmental contributions, is needed. In adult populations, strong correlations have been made between exposure to environmental toxicants, particularly persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and the incidence of obesity and T2DM. As the role of environmental exposures in early childhood, including to persistent or pervasive chemicals is beginning to be understood greater attention is warranted on the effects of prenatal/neonatal exposure to environmental toxicants and their possible role in the development of obesity and T2DM later on in life. This review aims to give a summary of the current literature on early childhood exposure to environmental toxicants and associations with obesity and T2DM.