title: Body weight maintenance and levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in a group of Swedish women seven years after completion of a Weight Watchers' diet.
abstract: The long-term effect of the WW programme on weight and oral cariogenic bacteria was evaluated after 7 yr. All WW who completed the 8-wk dietary regimen in an earlier study (n=33) and the persons in the reference group (REF) (n=27) were invited to participate. The salivary secretion rate, numbers of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (lbc) were determined. The WW were weighed. Sustaining a 5% weight loss from the initial weight was regarded as successful weight maintenance. An interview according to a standardised questionnaire was conducted on medication,the intake of antimicrobial agents, dietary changes and experience of dental caries during the last 7 yr. 25 WW and 21 REF qualified to participate. On a group basis, weight, salivary MS and lbc displayed pre-diet levels after 7yr. 15 of the WW (60%) were below their initial weight. Successful weight maintenance was achieved by 32%. Reported changes in the intake of fat-rich products differed significantly between the WW and the REF. Nine WW reported fewer carious lesions after joining the WW. Ninety per cent of REF did not regard caries as a problem. Comparisons of pre- and post-diet data and 7 yr data indicated short-term compliance and varying outcome in terms of long-term compliance. No association was found between salivary levels of bacteria and long-term weight maintenance on a group basis. However,further well-designed longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether salivary MS could be used on an individual basis to validate reported sucrose intake in a dietary regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Public Dental Health Service of Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden kohler@odontologi.gu.se
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andreén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose