Common chemical linked to belly fat in men

ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 14 (UPI) -- Phthalates, a chemical found in everyday products from plastics to soaps, is linked to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in U.S. adult males.

The findings add to a growing suspicion that low-dose exposures to phthalates and other common chemicals may be reducing testosterone levels in men and contributing to rising obesity rates and related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, lead study author Dr. Richard Stahlhut of the University of Rochester said in a statement.

The study, published in the online edition of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found several phthalate metabolites showed a positive correlation with abdominal obesity. Men who had the highest levels of phthalates in their urine had more belly fat and insulin resistance, according to Stahlhut.

Phthalates are used in products including cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, lotions, lubricants, paint, pesticides and plastics. It is also used to soften plastic tubing and in the coating of some timed-release medications.