September 28, 2026 | Source: U.S. Right to Know | by Pamela Ferdinand

Children exposed during pregnancy and early life to combinations of chemicals that disrupt hormones and metabolism may face a greater risk of excess weight that persists into adolescence, a new study suggests.

Published this month [September 2026] in Environment International, the study followed 1,301 mother-child pairs from six European birth cohorts. Researchers measured prenatal and childhood exposure to 45 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) across nine chemical classes. These included per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), flame retardants, metals, parabens, and phenols, including bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan.

Researchers found that greater exposure to certain combinations of EDCs was associated with higher BMI. They also found links to more body fat and higher odds of overweight. About 28% of the children had overweight or obesity at age 8, rising to about 30% by age 15.