Organochlorine pesticides and obesity in a rural prediabetic population: exploring bidirectional pathways with metabolic indicators
Authors' conclusion
In this cross-sectional study, we found that OCPs exposure may increase obesity risk both directly and by disrupting metabolism, while obesity itself can worsen OCP-related metabolic damage, revealing a bidirectional environment-body interaction.
Study context
- Population
- Rural Chinese adults with prediabetes
- Participants
- 894 adults
- Exposure
- Plasma OCP exposure and obesity
- Outcome
- Obesity and obese anthropometric measurements
Methodological detailsGeneralized linear regression (single exposure); quantile g-computation (QGC) and LASSO regression (mixed exposure); mediation analysis
- Generalized linear regression (single exposure); quantile g-computation (QGC) and LASSO regression (mixed exposure); mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Obesity
- β-BHC and p,p'-DDE were related to obesity (single exposure)
- Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) positively correlated with higher likelihood of obesity (mixed exposure, QGC and LASSO); β-BHC the primary contributor
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Exploratory bidirectional mediation analysis
- Obesity and metabolic indicators play a bidirectional mediating role in the association with OCPs, mainly systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ALT and AST/ALT
- Exploratory
Original publication
Organochlorine pesticides and obesity in a rural prediabetic population: exploring bidirectional pathways with metabolic indicators. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 27 February 2026. doi:10.
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