Obesity and dental caries among South Brazilian schoolchildren: a 2.5-year longitudinal study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the association between weight status and ΔDMFS among 12-year-old schoolchildren from South Brazil. A total of 801 12-year-old schoolchildren were followed-up for 2.5 ± 0.3 years. Data collection included questionnaire, recording of anthropometric measures (height and weight), and caries examination. The outcome was the difference between DMFS (number of decayed, missing or filled surfaces) at follow-up and baseline (ΔDMFS). Weight status, based on body mass index-forage Z-scores, was considered the main predictor variable. Negative binomial regression models were used to model the association, and rate ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. A multivariable fractional polynomial model was used to further explore the relationship between obesity and dental caries. DMFS increased by 0.86 (95%CI = 0.65-1.07), 0.91 (95%CI = 0.59-1.23), and 0.42 (95%CI = 0.03-0.80) for normal weight, overweight, and obese schoolchildren, respectively. Obese adolescents had significantly lower ΔDMFS than normal weight ones (p < 0.05). No significant association between categories of weight status and ΔDMFS was found (overweight, IRR=0.92, 95%CI = 0.69-1.21, p = 0.54; obese IRR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.51-1.12, p = 0.16). However, the multivariable fractional polynomial model showed an inverted U shaped relationship with a decreasing ΔDMFS with increasing BMI (p < 0.05). This population-based longitudinal study showed an inverse association between obesity and ΔDMFS over a 2.5-year period among South Brazilian adolescents.

Body Mass Index and Dental Caries, a Five-Year Follow-Up Study in Mexican Children

“…Concerning the association between BMI and dental caries, Willerhausen et al in Germany and Reddy et al in India reported an association and Cheng et al did not [ 23 , 25 , 27 ]. The study by Lock et al in Brazil [ 25 ] reported that after a 2.5-year follow up, 12-year-old OW/O children have fewer dental caries lesions, a higher DMFS and no association between BMI and caries, [ 26 ] similar to our data. On the other hand, concurrent with most literature reviews [ 1 , 8 , 13 , 14 ], in this investigation, no association was found between dental caries and BMI.…”

“…The prevalence of OW-O has been reported to be greater than 20%, [ 5 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ] and higher in boys than in girls [ 25 ]. Our findings suggest that this percentage varies depending on the age at which the information is obtained; OW started at 6–7 years-old for 16.9% and almost doubled at 12 years old for 30.3%, while OW had higher values than reported, and started at 19.4%, fluctuated during the 5 years of follow up and was 14.9% at the end of the study (11–12 years-old).…”

Relationship between Obesity and Dental Caries in Some University Students: A Pilot Study

“…In this study, some dental caries-related indices were significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal-weight group, with no significant differences in other indices, suggesting that obesity is either not related 8) . However, even among studies that reported significance, the prevalence of dental caries was higher in overweight and obese individuals in some studies 5,[9][10][11][12][13] , lower in obese individuals in some studies [14][15][16] , and higher in the underweight group in some studies 10,17) .…”

Assessing the Association Between Nutritional Status, Caries, and Gingivitis in Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Our results are in agreement with the finds observed in the previous studies with Brazilians from other regions of the country. 38 It is possible that caries is associated with overweight and obesity due to social economic factors. Families with higher income might have more access to sweeties and also to dental treatment.…”