The role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in obesity: mechanisms, evidence, and public health implications

Introduction: Obesity is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial disease influenced by environmental exposures, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These substances interfere with hormonal signaling and may contribute to adipogenesis and metabolic dysfunction. Methods: This narrative mini-review drew on epidemiological, experimental, and clinical research and examined the most recent literature on the role of EDCs in adipogenesis. It focuses on the mechanisms of action. Results: Studies report that a wide variety of EDCs affect adipogenic differentiation through pathways mediated by nuclear receptors (PPARγ/RXR) and through broader endocrine disruptions involving estrogen-, glucocorticoid-, and thyroid-related pathways. Adiposity, including body weight, BMI, and abdominal obesity, is associated with chemical exposure, according to clinical data from human studies. Since they may differ based on the EDCs, the timing of exposure, and sex, the strength and consistency of the effects are still not entirely understood. Conclusions: One important environmental factor in the development of obesity is EDCs. Public health interventions should prioritize identifying and regulating them.