Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that can be found in food and beverage can linings as well as some plastic bottles, plastic toys and baby bottles, has been linked to higher odds of obesity and adverse levels of body fat in children according to a new study.

In a study published recently in Pediatrics, researchers at the University of Michigan studied the levels of BPA found in children’s urine and then measured body fat and waist circumference. They found that higher risks of obesity — defined as a BMI (body fat index) above the 95th percentile on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s growth curves — was associated with higher levels of urinary BPA in the test participants. Researchers also found that children with higher BPA levels were more likely to have an abnormal waist circumference-to-height ratio.

Health concerns over BPA have been growing over the last several years. Some studies using rodents have linked it to breast and prostate cancer, reproductive abnormalities, early onset of puberty and conditions such as attention deficit disorder. Past studies with human adults have shown an association between high BPA levels and obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because of this growing concern, many countries and some states in the US have banned products that use or contain BPA, especially products that are likely to be used by children. Also, in July 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that baby bottles and children’s drinking cups could no longer contain BPA; however, this restriction does not apply to other BPA-containing products.

Syfo’s glass and 100% recyclable PET bottles contain absolutely no BPA. According to the Mayo Clinic, to steer clear of BPA, seek out BPA-free products, cut back on canned products and avoid exposing plastics to heat.

You can read more on the study linking BPA to obesity in children here and in this Fox News article.

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