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Introduction: Heavy metals such as Lead (Pb) and Mercury (Hg) can affect adipose tissue mass and function. Considering the high prevalence of exposure to heavy metals and obesity in Mexico, we aim to examine if exposure to Pb and Hg in adolescence can modify how fat is accumulated in early adulthood. Methods: This study included 100 participants from the ELEMENT cohort in Mexico. Adolescent Pb and Hg blood levels were determined at 14-16 years. Age- and sex-specific adolescent BMI Z-scores were calculated. At early adulthood (21-22 years), fat accumulation measurements were performed (abdominal, subcutaneous, visceral, hepatic, and pancreatic fat). Linear regression models with an interaction between adolescent BMI Z-score and Pb or Hg levels were run for each adulthood fat accumulation outcome with normal BMI as reference. Results: In adolescents with obesity compared to normal BMI, as Pb exposure increased, subcutaneous (p-interaction = 0.088) and visceral (p-interaction < 0.0001) fat accumulation increases. Meanwhile, Hg was associated with subcutaneous (p-interaction = 0.027) and abdominal (p-interaction = 0.022) fat deposition among adolescents with obesity. Conclusions: Heavy metal exposure in adolescence may alter how fat is accumulated in later periods of life.

Following a 2019 workshop led by the Center for Global Health Studies at the Fogarty International Center on the topic of childhood obesity prevention and research synergies transpiring from cross-border collaborations, we convened a group of experts in the United States and Latin America to conduct a narrative review of the epidemiological literature on the role of obesogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the etiology of childhood obesity among Latino youth in the United States and Latin America. In addition to summarizing and synthesizing results from research on this topic published within the last decade, we place the findings within a lifecourse biobehavioral framework to aid in identification of unique exposure-outcome relationships driven by both biological and behavioral research, identify inconsistencies and deficiencies in current literature, and discuss the role of policy regulations, all with the goal of identifying viable avenues for prevention of early life obesity in Latino/Hispanic populations.