"In TOXIC WAIST, Dr. Bruce Blumberg reveals his landmark research as well as that by others in the field to show how hidden factors, such as environmental chemicals, might be important players in our 21st century obesity epidemic. According to leading-edge science, being overweight is not just the result of too many cheeseburgers and not enough exercise. A silent factor is contributing greatly to our obesity epidemic: "obesogens." These chemicals in our diet and environment sabotage our efforts to lose weight by disrupting our hormonal system, altering how we create and store fat, and changing how we respond to dietary choices and calories. Even scarier: research has shown that the effects of obesogen exposure can be passed on to future generations by irreversibly interfering with the expression of our genes. And these chemicals are everywhere, from our food to our furniture to common, household products. TOXIC WAIST offers a synthesis of the latest research in the field, and a three-step action plan to prevent and minimize the damaging effects of obesogens. This book lays out what we know so far about obesogens, shows how they work and how we are exposed to them (get ready to throw out your plastic food storage containers). Most importantly, it arms us with the knowledge we need to protect ourselves from the harmful effects of obesogens"--