title: Reduced masticatory function in non-elderly obese Japanese adults.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal eating behaviors such as compulsive overeating, eating fast, chewing less, palatable soft food preferences and avoiding hard food are often observed in obese individuals, and these behaviors may affect their masticatory function, but little information of masticatory function in obese subjects are available at present. The present study investigated masticatory function in non-elderly obese Japanese adults and explored the relationships between obesity and masticatory function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five obese subjects (BMI ≥ 25; male: 34, female: 41) and 98 subjects with normal weight (BMI 18.5-25; male: 63, female: 35) aged 25-40 years old were enrolled in the present study. The status of masticatory function was determined using a chewing gum mixing method, a direct method of examining masticatory function, and the numbers of present teeth, untreated decayed teeth, missing teeth, and filled teeth were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Masticatory function was significantly lower in the obese subjects both in male and female, whereas the numbers of present teeth, decayed teeth, missing teeth and filled teeth did not differ significantly between the obese subjects and the controls both in male and female. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between obesity and reduced masticatory function after adjustment for gender, age, and numbers of decayed teeth, missing teeth, and filled teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significantly reduced masticatory function was found in male and female non-elderly obese adults based on direct measurement of masticatory function. Multiple regression analysis suggested that obesity might induce reduced masticatory function.
authors: Section of Periodontology and GCOE Program, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Sayaka
authors: S
authors: Katagiri
authors: Section of Behavioral Dentistry, Department of Comprehensive Oral Health Care, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. Electronic address:nitta.behd@tmd.ac.jp.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nitta
authors: Section of Periodontology and GCOE Program, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Nagasawa
authors: Section of Periodontology and GCOE Program, Department of Hard Tissue Engineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Izumi
authors: Department of 3rd Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Kanazawa
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Matsuo
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Hiroshige
authors: H
authors: Chiba
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Department of Oral Surgery, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Miyauchi
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Naoto
authors: N
authors: Nakamura
authors: Department of Dental Medicine, Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Fumishige
authors: F
authors: Oseko
authors: Department of Dental Medicine, Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Narisato
authors: N
authors: Kanamura
authors: Departmemt of Oral Health, The National Institute of Public Health, Japan.
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Ando
authors: Department of Translational Research, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors: Nobuhiro
authors: N
authors: Hanada
authors: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Care, Kiryu University, Gunma, Japan.
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Inoue