title: Oral health and obesity indicators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In western Sweden, the aim was to study the associations between oral health variables and total and central adiposity, respectively, and to investigate the influence of socio-economic factors (SES), lifestyle, dental anxiety and co-morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects constituted a randomised sample from the 1992 data collection in the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden (n = 999, 38- > =78 yrs). The study comprised a clinical and radiographic examination, together with a self-administered questionnaire. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) > =30 kg/m(2), waist-hip ratio (WHR) > =0.80, and waist circumference >0.88 m. Associations were estimated using logistic regression including adjustments for possible confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean BMI value was 25.96 kg/m(2), the mean WHR 0.83, and the mean waist circumference 0.83 m. The number of teeth, the number of restored teeth, xerostomia, dental visiting habits and self-perceived health were associated with both total and central adiposity, independent of age and SES. For instance, there were statistically significant associations between a small number of teeth (<20) and obesity: BMI (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.40-2.73), WHR (1.67; 1.28-2.19) and waist circumference (1.94; 1.47-2.55), respectively. The number of carious lesions and masticatory function showed no associations with obesity. The obesity measure was of significance, particularly with regard to behaviour, such as irregular dental visits, with a greater risk associated with BMI (1.83; 1.23-2.71) and waist circumference (1.96; 1.39-2.75), but not with WHR (1.29; 0.90-1.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Associations were found between oral health and obesity. The choice of obesity measure in oral health studies should be carefully considered.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Behavioral and Community Dentistry, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. anna-lena.ostberg@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Östberg
authors.forename: Calle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissner
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakeberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004245:DMF Index; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D009909:Oral Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology