Overweight and dental caries: the association among German children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between iso-body mass index (iso-BMI) and both dental caries status and caries increment among German school children.


METHODS
Six hundred and ninety-four students (age range 9-12 years, mean 10.34 ± 0.56, 48% females) were recruited from the fifth grade of 18 primary schools. Weight, height, and oral health data number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) as well as parent/legal guardian questionnaire (measuring SES) were collected during school dental examination at baseline and after one and a half-year follow-up. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the international classification system for childhood overweight and obesity (iso-BMI). Statistical analyses were performed using Poisson regression models.


RESULTS
Iso-BMI was significantly associated with dental caries prevalence and severity in the permanent dentition (P = 0.039). Low-normal weight children had a lower mean DMFT (0.56) than did overweight/obese children (0.70). In addition, a border-line significant association was found between overweight/obese children and caries increment (P = 0.055).


CONCLUSIONS
Although iso-BMI was associated with dental caries prevalence and severity, the association between caries increment and iso-BMI did not reach a statistical significance. Overweight/obese children however acquired more additional carious lesions during the follow-up period than children with low-normal weight.
Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry Department, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Al-Hada Military Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Ghalib
G
Qadri
Mohammed
M
Alkilzy
You-Shan
YS
Feng
Christian
C
Splieth
D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis