By A.L. Childers
The Weight We Carry Isn’t Just Ours It’s not just age. It’s not just your metabolism slowing down. And it’s definitely not just that midnight snack. For Gen X women (and honestly, all of us breathing modern air), something deeper is going on—and it’s soaked into our water, food, and even shampoo. Welcome to the age of uninvited weight gain. The silent saboteurs? Endocrine disruptors, forever chemicals, and hormone hijackers that weren’t in your grandma’s garden.
PFAS: The Forever Chemicals Living in Your Blood Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are in your tap water, your nonstick pans, your makeup, and your takeout containers. These chemicals are linked to:
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Hormonal weight gain
- Infertility and early menopause
- Autoimmune issues
EPA and medical journals have sounded the alarm, but these chemicals don’t break down easily—they accumulate.
Why Gen X Had It Better (for a While) We grew up in the 70s and 80s, when dinner was made from scratch and food labels didn’t require a chemistry degree. Now? We’ve got artificial dyes, plastic particles, and hormone-disrupting additives in everything from cereal to salad dressing.
We weren’t overweight because:
- We didn’t have 24/7 access to ultra-processed food
- We had recess, chores, and walked everywhere
- Our shampoo didn’t contain xenoestrogens
- Our chicken wasn’t pumped full of hormones
It’s Not a Lack of Willpower—It’s a Systemic Problem You can’t out-Zumba endocrine disruptors. They mess with your hormones, metabolism, and brain chemistry. PFAS mimic estrogen. BPA disrupts insulin. Phthalates damage thyroid function.
And all of these are found in everyday items:
- Tap water
- Canned foods
- Perfumes and lotions
- Plastic containers
What You Can Do to Fight Back You don’t need perfection. You need awareness.
Start here:
- Switch to glass or stainless steel for food storage
- Filter your water with a reverse osmosis or Berkey filter
- Read ingredient labels—fragrance = red flag
- Choose organic when possible, especially meat and dairy
- Support local farms and co-ops
Small changes can ease the burden on your body—and your thyroid.
Resources & References
- Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org
- EPA PFAS Information: www.epa.gov/pfas
- NIH on Endocrine Disruptors: www.niehs.nih.gov
About the Author A.L. Childers is a Southern-rooted truth-teller, bestselling author, and lifelong survivor of both government cheese and thyroid dysfunction. She writes with humor, heart, and a heavy dose of “bless your heart but here’s the truth.”
📚 Check out her latest memoir: It Wasn’t a Diet—It Was Just Being Broke — and more titles exploring thyroid health, environmental toxins, and survival with sass.
🛒 Author link: amazon.com/author/alchilders
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
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