Another factor is our exposure to certain kinds of chemicals that affect the endocrine system and metabolic processes, Kuk told the Atlantic. Plastic packaging, pesticides and substances known as persistent organic pollutants (mostly synthetic toxins that tend to bioaccumulate through the food web) may be impacting the way our bodies process food and store fat.
Increased use of prescription drugs may also play a role, Kuk told the Atlantic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, spending on prescription drugs doubled between 1999 and 2008, the last year of the York University study. Among adults (the subjects of the study), antidepressants were the most commonly used drug — and many, many, many studies have linked antidepressants to weight gain. But they’re not the only culprits: Allergy medications, steroids and pain medications can also affect weight.
It’s gotten harder to lose weight and not for the reasons you think – The Washington Post
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