Beyond Food and Exercise: the Other Factors in the Obesity Epidemic

Everything you come in contact with, every second of every day, makes an impact on your health. It’s known as the exposome. It’s a relatively new concept, first defined in 2005. The exposome includes the food you eat, the beauty products you use, the air you breathe, your friends and family, and everything in between. Studying it, could be the key to understanding the obesity epidemic.

That was the focus of the 12th Annual Sugar, Stress, Environment & Weight Symposium put on by The Consortium for Obesity Assessment, Study, and Treatment at UCSF. Popular opinion would have you believe that obesity is a simple equation of too much food and not enough exercise. But, researchers say the problem is far more complex. In this eye-opening lecture series, you will hear how polluted air has been linked to obesity in children living in California’s Central Valley. You will learn about obesogens – chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system. And, you will understand how stress can create a vicious cycle of weight gain.

The final talk focuses on how you can remove toxins from your personal exposome and the progress being made around the world. New labeling in the food and beauty industries allows you to make smarter decisions. LEED buildings are becoming more common in the United States. And, monitoring systems for exposome pollutants are getting better. There is plenty being done, and plenty you can do, to make an impact.

Browse more programs in UCSF Consortium for Obesity Assessment, Study and Treatment

Poisonings, Overdoses, and Toxic Exposures

8232There are things in our environment that we know are dangerous like venomous snakes and poisons, and then there are substances that seem innocent but can be toxic, especially to children.

This new series from UCSF explores common medications, herbal therapies, and household chemicals that can make our lives healthier, more convenient, and better but when used incorrectly, either intentionally or inadvertently, they can become life-threatening poisons and toxins.

Learn about the latest designer and adulterated street drugs, toxic land and marine creatures, common household ingestions, misbegotten uses of herbal medications, and the way that we use the laboratory to solve poisoning mysteries.

Get more information on how to reduce your exposure to known toxins and how to safeguard yourselves from substances that have to potential to harm.