John Peterson Myers, PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, PO Box 125, White Hall, VA 22987-0125, 434-229-0490, jpmyers@environmentalhealthnews.org

While weight may seem determined simplistically by food intake and energy output, complex mechanisms mediated by gene expression during development and in adulthood mediate weight homeostasis. A growing body of data now plausibly implicate certain contaminants in disruption of weight homeostasis via alterations in gene expression, both in the control of adipogenesis and in the feedback systems governing appetite and basal metabolic weight. Existing data come from in vitro work with cell lines and in vivo work with experimental animals. Additional data from humans show that exposure at relevant levels to contaminants implicated by the in vivo and in vitro work occur during human development. If these hypotheses are strengthened by additional research, they will offer realistic opportunities for public health intervention to stem the obesity epidemic.

Learning Objectives: Following the presentation

the participant (learner) will be able to (
• understand current evidence linking genetic mechanisms controlling adipogenesis and disruption of gene expression; (
• discuss current understanding of hormone systems involved in weight homeostasis and their vulnerability to signal disruption; (
• summarize animal data linking in utero exposure to post-pubertal obesity; (
• identify contaminants linked to altered gene expression of relevant genes; and (
• recommend exposure reductions appropriate for precautionary action.

Keywords: Environment, Obesity

Related Web page: www.environmentalhealthnews.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.