Scientists are testing whether avoiding plastic products for just 4 weeks can improve heart health and weight in adults who are overweight. The PERTH study will give 60 people either normal lifestyle advice or help them replace all plastic food containers, kitchen tools, and personal care products with plastic-free alternatives. Researchers want to see if reducing exposure to plastic chemicals (which can disrupt hormones) will lower the amount of these chemicals in people’s urine and improve their blood pressure, weight, and other health markers. This could be the first study to show that simple changes to reduce plastic exposure might help protect our hearts and metabolism.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether avoiding plastic products for 4 weeks can reduce harmful plastic chemicals in the body and improve heart health and weight
  • Who participated: 60 adults aged 18-60 who are significantly overweight (BMI over 30) with large waist measurements
  • Key finding: This is a study protocol - results are not yet available, but researchers will measure plastic chemical levels in urine and various health markers
  • What it means for you: If successful, this study may show that simple plastic-reduction changes could help improve heart health and weight management

The Research Details

This is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention actually works. Half the participants (30 people) will get intensive help replacing all their plastic food containers, kitchen utensils, personal care products, and cleaning supplies with plastic-free alternatives for 4 weeks. The other half will continue their normal lifestyle as a comparison group. Researchers will collect urine, stool, and nasal samples weekly, plus blood samples and health measurements at the beginning, middle, and end of the study.

This design is important because it directly compares people who reduce plastic exposure to those who don’t, while keeping everything else the same. This helps prove whether any health improvements are actually due to cutting plastic use rather than other factors.

The study uses rigorous scientific methods including random assignment to groups and multiple types of biological samples. However, the sample size is relatively small at 60 people, which may limit how broadly the results can be applied to the general population.

What the Results Show

This is a protocol paper describing how the study will be conducted - the actual results are not yet available. The researchers plan to measure levels of bisphenols (chemicals used to make hard plastics) in participants’ urine as their main outcome. They expect that people in the plastic-reduction group will have lower levels of these chemicals compared to the control group after 4 weeks.

The study will also measure phthalates (chemicals that make plastics flexible) in urine samples. Additionally, researchers will track changes in weight, waist size, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, inflammation markers, and body composition to see if reducing plastic exposure improves overall health.

While previous studies have shown that plastic chemicals can disrupt hormones and may contribute to obesity and heart problems, this appears to be one of the first controlled trials testing whether actively reducing plastic exposure can improve health outcomes in real-world settings.

Since this is just the study protocol, we don’t know the actual results yet. The planned study is small and short-term (only 4 weeks), so it may not capture longer-term effects or apply to all populations.

The Bottom Line

Wait for the actual study results before making major lifestyle changes based on this research. However, reducing plastic use may have other environmental and health benefits beyond what this study measures.

Adults who are overweight and concerned about chemical exposures should watch for the results. People with normal weight or different health conditions may not see the same benefits.

The study results should be available within the next 1-2 years. If positive, benefits might be seen within weeks of reducing plastic exposure.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily plastic use by logging meals eaten from plastic containers, use of plastic water bottles, and plastic-packaged personal care products
  • Gradually replace plastic food storage containers with glass or stainless steel alternatives and choose products with minimal plastic packaging
  • Monitor weekly progress in reducing plastic touchpoints while tracking weight, waist measurements, and overall energy levels

This is a study protocol and results are not yet available. Do not make major health decisions based on this preliminary information. Consult your healthcare provider before making significant dietary or lifestyle changes, especially if you have existing health conditions.