REVIEW PAPER
Are Environmental Contaminants Responsible
for ‘Globesity’?
Agnieszka Filipiak-Florkiewicz1, Kinga Topolska1, Adam Florkiewicz2, Ewa Cieślik1
1Department of Nutrition Technology and Consumption, Faculty of Food Technology,
University of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-149 Kraków,
Balicka S122, Poland
2Department of Food Analysis and Quality Assessment, Faculty of Food Technology,
University of Agriculture in Kraków,
30-149 Kraków, Balicka 122, Poland
University of Agriculture in Kraków, 30-149 Kraków,
Balicka S122, Poland
2Department of Food Analysis and Quality Assessment, Faculty of Food Technology,
University of Agriculture in Kraków,
30-149 Kraków, Balicka 122, Poland
Submission date: 2016-08-01
Final revision date: 2016-09-27
Acceptance date: 2016-09-28
Online publication date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2017-03-22
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2017;26(2):467–478
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.
In the previous year 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese. The concern of
governments, the scientific community, and health services is noticed in the causes behind the prevalence of
obesity and its prevention. Taking into consideration the reasons underlying obesity, toxic substances found
in the environment and the food system have been receiving significant attention. Thus, the aim of this paper
was to explore the associations between numerous environmental contaminants (heavy metals, persistent
organic pollutants) and obesity. Our hypothesis was that neuroendocrine system disturbances caused by
these xenobiotics play a crucial role in the obesity epidemic. The neurotoxicity of these compounds could
be connected with the reward center in the brain as well as the endocrine system, and lead to an increase of
food intake and, consequently, obesity.
Taking into consideration global health as well as the best interests of society, studies in this area are crucial for understanding this problem.
Taking into consideration global health as well as the best interests of society, studies in this area are crucial for understanding this problem.
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