title: Association of age specific body mass index, dental caries and socioeconomic status of children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the association of BMI-for-age with dental caries and socioeconomic status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 2033 school going children aged 6-15 years were selected from ten different schools located in the south of Bangalore city. Height and weight of each child was recorded to obtain BMI-for-age. The socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed based on educational status, profession and annual income of parents. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO criteria. A diet recording sheet was given to each child to record his/her dietary intake of the four basic food groups and snacks for 5 consecutive days including one weekend day. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that a higher number of children who were overweight and at a risk of overweight were seen in the upper SES and both showed a higher mean dietary intake of all the four food groups and snacks. The mean deft score was significantly higher in underweight children. A significantly higher mean DMFT score was observed in children at risk of overweight and overweight children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children from the upper classes consumed more food, including snacks and were either at a risk of overweight or overweight. They had more caries in their permanent dentition. Underweight children were seen in the lower class. Although their intake of snacks was less, they had higher caries in their primary dentition.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, The Oxford Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre. drpriyapedo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D013851:Thinness / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology