BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important problem of public health with increasing prevalence in the population. The diagnosis is made based on body mass index (BMI) levels; the objective of this study was to determine whether the measurement of the neck circumference may be an option to differentiate non-obese from obese individuals. METHOD: Neck circumference was measured using a graduated tape over the thyroid cartilage, in 50 non-obese individuals (66% women) and 97 obese individuals (65% women), diagnosed by BMI. RESULTS: Neck circumference was higher for obese than for non-obese individuals and higher in men than in women. The values of neck circumferences greater than 42 cm for men and 36 cm for women were associated with obesity, with high sensitivity (98%) and specificity (96%). There is a positive association between neck circumference with weight and BMI in women. Age has a negative correlation with BMI in obese individuals. Obese women have less height than non-obese. CONCLUSION: Neck circumference can differentiate obese from non-obese individuals, with high sensitivity and specificity. It is higher in obese than in non-obese individuals, higher in men than in women, and is associated with the grade of obesity.
Obesity is a public health problem with an increasing prevalence in the population that affects physiological functions of the individuals. 1,2 Obese individuals have fat deposition in the posterior tongue, with narrowing of the pharyngeal lumen and impairment of muscle function, [3][4][5] which may cause changes in oral motor function.Pre-mature posterior spillage of liquid is more common in obese individuals, 6 which suggests a loss of oral control. A moderate positive correlation is observed between body mass index (BMI) and the time to aspirate water through a straw in young women. 7 Clinical evaluation of the stomatognathic system in obese showed differences from controls, and surface electromyography demonstrated asymmetry of activity of the anterior temporalis. 8 These results indicate possibility of oral motor dysfunction in obese individuals.To analyse the association between obesity and oral motor function is justified for clarifying what kind of impairment obese
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