Removing shoes when entering the house and swapping carpet for wooden floors could help people stay slim because it prevents environmental chemicals accumulating in the house, scientists have claimed.

According to new research presented at the European Society of Endocrinology in Barcelona, everyday products contain ‘obesogens’ which interfere with hormones and promote the build up of a fat in the body, Researchers at the Universities of Aveiro and Beira Interior in Portugal carried out a review into the current surveys and studies on obesogenic chemicals to see where people are most likely to come into contact with them.

They found that diet, house dust, and everyday products such as cleaning chemicals, kitchenware or cosmetics are the biggest sources of contaminants.

In light of the findings, the researchers have made seven recommendations to minimise the build of obesogens at home. They include choosing fresh, organic and pesticide free food over processed products, particularly those containing a long list of ingredients on the back

They also recommended removing shoes when entering the house to avoid bringing contaminants indoors, vacuuming often to stop chemicals building up in house dust and removing carpets at work and home, replacing them with wooden floors.