Obesity and obesity related disease in adulthood: the dark side of early life exposure to Environmental Chemical Disruptors

Purpose: The present review aims to summarize and collect data in support of the obesogenic theory to broaden knowledge regarding the intriguing relationship between exposure to environmental chemical disruptors (EDCs), obesity and obesity related diseases. Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature from 1990 to 2024 was performed in Pubmed using the word endocrine disruptor chemicals or obesogens and: adipose tissue, metabolic diseases, weight gain, gut microbiota. Results: In the past, genetic factors, an unbalanced diet and a sedentary lifestyle were considered the only risk factors for obesity development. On the other hand, recent studies described the obesogenic theory, suggesting that an interaction between exposure to EDCs with obesogenic activity, especially during early life development, and the endocrine system can play a key role in the greater susceptibility to the onset of obesity, not even excluding the involvement of the gut microbiota and its alterations. Conclusions: Data collected show that there is a close link between environmental exposure to EDCs during early life of development and the onset of obesity and related dysmetabolic diseases that may occur later in life.