Are kids' obesity rates rising partly because of the BPA in food packaging?
Likely yes. New work shows BPA leads the phthalate-and-phenol obesity link in kids.
What's actually in it
BPA from canned food liners, plastic-bottled drinks, and thermal paper receipts gets into kids through food and skin. It binds to receptors that control fat storage and metabolism. Phthalates and other phenols hit similar pathways.
The effect is bigger in kids because their bodies are still building the systems that handle fat.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Lipids Health Dis looked at phthalate and phenol mixtures in kids and matched the chemicals to body weight and obesity. BPA was the dominant chemical in the obesity link. Higher BPA tracked with higher BMI and waist size, even after adjusting for diet and activity.
The team called BPA an "obesogen" that drives weight gain on top of everything else.
For kids, store food in glass or stainless steel. Pick fresh or frozen over canned. Use BPA-free water bottles, but go a step further and pick polypropylene (#5) or steel since some "BPA-free" plastics use BPS. Skip thermal paper receipts when you can.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure to phthalate and phenol mixtures and obesity in children and adolescents: the dominant role of bisphenol A. | Lipids Health Dis | 2026 |
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