AbstractObesity and diabetes have overtaken smoking as the number 1 preventable health determinate in the United States. In its basic form, obesity is due to disruptions of the endocrine systems that control food intake, satiety, and meta-bolic rate. Recent studies have identified a subclass of endo-crine disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormonally reg-ulated metabolic processes, especially during early develop-ment. These chemicals, called“obesogens,”may predispose individuals to gainweight despite efforts to limit caloric intake
and increase physical activity. Evidence suggests that chemi-cal exposures early in life can predispose individuals toweight gain through programming changes, which may enhance dys-functional eating behaviors later in life. This review examines the latest research on the obesogen hypothesis and its under-pinnings in the Developmental Origins of Heath and Disease model. We provide examples of known and suspected obesogens, and evidence of their general mechanisms of ac-tion. The research reviewed here provides a solid foundation of knowledge fromwhich health scientistsmay draw fromand build upon to inform their research and decision-making. Keywords Obesity.Endocrine. Endocrine disruptor. Obesogen. Developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)