title: Is there a relationship between obesity and tooth loss and edentulism? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study conducted a systematic review to assess the bi-directional association between tooth loss/edentulism and obesity. Electronic searches were performed in four different databases. Observational studies that tested associations between tooth loss/edentulism and obesity as either exposures or outcomes were included. Additionally, meta-analyses, funnel plots and sensitivity analyses were conducted to synthesize the evidence. A total of 549 articles were identified in the electronic database search. Out of which, 16 studies were included within the meta-analyses: 75% considered tooth loss/edentulism as exposure and obesity as outcome, whereas 25% alternatively considered obesity as exposure and tooth loss/edentulism as outcome. Pooled estimates showed that obese individuals had 1.49 (95%CI 1.20-1.86) and 1.25 (95%CI 1.10-1.42) times higher odds of having any tooth loss and edentulism, respectively. Alternatively, when tooth loss or edentulism were considered as exposures, individuals with any tooth loss had 1.41 (95%CI 1.11-1.79) times higher odds for obesity, while edentates had even higher odds (OR 1.60; 95%CI 1.29-2.00). The results indicate a bi-directional association between tooth loss and obesity. Considering that all selected studies were of cross-sectional study design limiting inferences on temporality, longitudinal prospective studies are required to test the causal relationship between tooth loss/edentulism and obesity or vice a versa. © 2016 World Obesity.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: F R M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8053-4517
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ferrúa
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), School of Dentistry, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1336-6493
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.|Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Demarco
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Tooth loss; body mass index; edentulism; obesity