"More Evidence Links BPA To Childhood Obesity"

"There's fresh evidence that the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, may play a part in childhood obesity."

"BPA is a chemical that is widely used in food packaging. Government studies have shown that 92 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.

There's intense scientific interest in BPA because it is chemically similar to the hormone estrogen, and there's some concern that it may mimic estrogen's effects in the body, causing harm to the brain and reproductive organs, particularly in children.

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally banned BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups, though manufacturers had already stopped using it. The agency declined to ban it from other food containers, pending further research."

Colleen Stoxen reports for the Minneapolis Star Tribune June 13, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"Is BPA Making Girls Obese?" (Mother Jones)