Could Your Baby Crib Mattress Cause Your Child to be Obese?

Chubby little kids used to be just that – chubby little kids. They may have been
teased at school, but no one really thought of it as a health problem. In recent
years, however, research has linked childhood obesity to serious health problems.
Concerned parents try to get kids to eat less and do more physical activity but,
in many cases, that just doesn’t work. Why? A new study has discovered a link
between obesity and chemicals. Which is one of the reasons why you should consider
a crib mattress free of potentially toxic chemicals.

How much of a problem is childhood obesity? In the U.S., on average, 30% of
children are overweight or obese. For some states the numbers are much higher. In
Mississippi, for example, nearly half the kids have a weight problem.

Not only can this be very hard on a child socially by interfering with relationships and
self-esteem, it also increases the risk of heart disease, asthma, liver problems and
diabetes. It’s really worth doing something about.

But what does the link between chemicals and obesity have to do with crib
mattresses? Quite simply, one major group of chemicals suspected of causing the
problems is phthalates - the chemicals used to make personal care products, toys,
and many other things that are part of our everyday lives. For children, one of the
biggest sources of phthalates is the waterpoof covering on their crib mattress.

Phthalates are endocrine disruptors, which means they affect the glands and
hormones that regulate many bodily functions, including weight gain.

One study found that a high concentration of phthalates, phenols and
phytoestrogens caused girls aged seven through nine to develop breasts and
pubic hair. Another study on boys aged three to six, whose mothers were tested
for phthalates breakdown products while pregnant, tended to play in ways not
associated with young boys. In fact, those whose mothers had the highest
concentration of phthalates metabolites had a ‘masculine score’ of one-fifth that of
mothers in the lowest concentration group.

As if the above damage was not enough, a new study on 400 girls aged nine to 11
has now linked endocrine disruptors – specifically, phthalates – to obesity.
Researchers measured the girls’ exposure to phthalates through urine testing. Those
with the highest concentration of phthalates were the most overweight.

According Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, the girls with the highest exposure to phthalates
were the most overweight.

Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, one of the lead researchers on the study and professor of
pediatrics at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center, said that even though there
is some recognition of the role chemicals play in childhood obesity, it is generally
thought of as a ‘calories eaten vs. calories burned’ issue. Dr. Landrigan thinks the
link to chemicals may be far more significant.

The evidence of the health consequences of chemicals in our everyday lives is

mounting. Pesticides, fire-retardants and phthalates are.

To protect your children, it’s important to get the phthalates out of your life. Start
them early with baby crib mattresses free of phthalates and other harmful chemicals.
Babies spend 12 to 15 hours every day in their cribs – the exposure is significant.
And do an assessment of your home and lifestyle to do your best to eliminate
harmful chemicals from your environment.

Video Source: Youtube