Excess weight causes many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Once, this was only seen among older people. But now, more and more children and adolescents are overweight or obese, and many of them have the associated health problems.

    Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery is one approach to unhealthy excess weight. Unfortunately, many patients then slowly regain much if not all of the weight they initially lost.

    In a recent publication about adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery, researchers measured the amount of polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in the patients’ blood before they underwent the surgery. Those with a higher level of “forever chemicals” were more likely to regain weight.

    The implication, borne out by many other studies, is that “forever chemicals” in our bodies cause us to eat more food than we need and store it as fat. How are we exposed to PFAS? Many ways, including non-stick cookware, grease-resistant packaging commonly used for prepared or microwavable food, plastics, and stain-resistant fabrics.

    All of these things have made life more convenient, but with a serious price for our health. The answer for us as individuals is to prepare our own food from simple ingredients. The answer for society is to enact legislation about how PFAS are used – which will require political will which, so far, is lacking.