title: Exploring the relation between body mass index, diet, and dental caries among 6-12-year-old children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Childhood overweight and obesity are becoming a major public health concern all over the world. Change in lifestyles and economic growth have led to sedentary lifestyle and altered dietary patterns. There are conflicting reports in the literature regarding the association between body mass index (BMI) and dental caries from various parts of the world. The aim of the present study was to determine if there is an association between BMI-for-age and dental caries in children and to find out the role of diet with respect to BMI-for-age and dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographics and anthropometric measurements were obtained for 600 children and BMI-for-age was calculated. Clinical examination for dental caries was carried out following WHO criteria. A diet recording sheet was prepared and children/parents were asked to record the dietary intake for 3 days. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using Chi-square, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After excluding improperly filled diet recording sheets, 510 children were included in the study. Caries prevalence was more in obese children than in other BMI groups. Caries scores increased as BMI-for-age increased, though this was not statistically significant. Consumption of fatty foods and snacks was more with obese children compared to other groups. A correlation was found between caries and snacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental caries scores showed no relationship between BMI-for-age in children. Both snacks and fatty food items were consumed more by obese children, which seeks attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. arunetam@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elangovan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mungara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Joseph
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003611:Dairy Products; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D062410:Snacks; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated