Born to Be Big Childhood Term Paper

People can exercise their free choice at the grocery store by choosing organic foods, although because of generally higher costs of organic products, this will not be a solution for everyone. People in lower socioeconomic groups often get food at discount chains or even food pantries where organics are not even a choice at all.

There is no incentive for makers of agricultural chemicals to modify their products in response to charges about obesogens. As the documentary films the Future of Food and King Corn pointed out, the use of pesticides is very big business. Though detrimental effects of pesticides and genetically-modified seeds and food have been shown, further research is needed to prove the link between pesticides and genetic modifications that lead to obesity in infants and children. When and if that link is proven, the public will have to demand that the government take action. Consumer advocate organizations currently exist to call attention to the problem of pesticide use; it is hoped that they will continue their work in educating the public.

Conclusion

New evidence suggests that being overweight is not just the result of personal choices about what you eat, combined with inactivity (Newbold, cited in Begley, 2009). It could be blamed on exposure to chemicals in childhood and even in utero. It is thought that the so-named obesogens particularly affect overweight and obese individuals who are fifty years old or younger, since the use of agricultural chemicals has greatly increased over the last half century, therefore increasing individual incidence of exposure. Begley also noted that exposure to chemicals may well account for a phenomenon experienced by many -- they eat the same things as their friends, yet gain weight while their friends do not. Chemical exposure may be a way of explaining the difference in individuals' metabolisms.Scientists have noted that even slight variations in amounts and exposure times change the effects of chemicals on so-called "fat genes" (Begley, 2009).

Scientists also point out that exposure to obesogens does not doom an individual to obesity. Diet and exercise are important, although people predisposed to being overweight may find they have to work harder than their slim counterparts. Perhaps as research shows the mechanisms by which synthetic chemicals alter hormones, further research will shed light on how these effects can be counteracted.

References

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Barnat, S., Boisett, M., Casse, F., Lecerf, J.M., Veschambre, D., & Periquet, a. (2010).

Pesticide residues intake of French adults under increased consumption of fruits and vegetables -- a theoretical study. Journal of Environmental Science & Health, Part B

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Begley, S. (2009). Born to be big. Newsweek 9/21/2009 154 (12), pp. 56-62.

Crinnion, W.J. (2010). Organic foods contain higher levels of certain nutrients, lower levels of pesticides, and may provide health benefits for the consumer. Alternative Medicine

Review 15 (1), pp. 4-12. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database December 29, 2010.

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Lawrence, S. (2010). The impact of stigma on the child with.....