Researchers find flame retardants commonly included in the makeup of electronics promote weight gain

Mar 5, 2015 11:57 GMT  ·  By

This might come as a bit of a shock to some folks, but as it turns out, it might be that electronics are at least partly to blame for the world's seemingly ever increasing waistline. No, it's not that we've grown lazy and, therefore, fat-prone because of them.

In a recent study, scientists with the University of Houston argue that tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA), two flame retardants commonly included in the makeup of electronics to prevent overheating, can promote weight gain.

Thus, the researchers say that, when exposed to either of these chemical compounds, zebrafish tend to grow heavier and longer. If the flame retardants have the same effect on people, this could mean that our electronics might literally been making us fat.

Apparently, TBBPA and TCBPA can foster weight gain by acting on a very specific hormone receptor and, in doing so, speed up the rate at which the body turns stem cells into fat cells. Because of this effect that they have on body weight, TBBPA and TCBPA are now referred to as obesogens.

“Given the growing obesity epidemic and the serious health conditions it often leads to, our research shows that it’s important to study if chemicals are obesogens. Our goal is to find the worst ones and then replace them with safer alternatives,” said researcher Maria Bondesson.

In case anyone was wondering, people can easily become exposed to both TBBPA and TCBPA. This is because computers, television sets, tablets, cell phones and video game consoles keep releasing these compounds all throughout their life.

Simply put, these two flame retardants are probably a common presence in the air inside our homes and offices. Even more worrying, evidence at hand indicates that they can be passed on from a mother to her newly born child via breast milk.