Youth receiving orthodontic care are not immune to poor diet and overweight: a call for dental providers to participate in prevention efforts.
OBJECTIVE
While obesity is common in the US, disparities exist. Orthodontic samples are assumed to be more affluent than the general population and not in need of assistance in developing or maintaining healthy lifestyles. This paper evaluates the need of the orthodontic population for intervention by examining diet and weight status of an orthodontic patient sample and describes a role for dental clinicians in obesity prevention efforts.


METHODS
552 patients age 8-14 years, 54% female, 51% non-Hispanic white, 26% Hispanic were recruited from orthodontic practices in Southern California to participate in a randomized controlled trial of clinician-delivered health promotion. Height, weight, demographics, and diet were recorded. Chi-Square analyses were used to test for differences at baseline by gender, age, ethnicity, and income.


RESULTS
13% of the sample was overweight and 9% was obese. Males had a higher rate of obesity than females. Lower income youth had a higher rate than higher income youth. Hispanic youth had a higher rate than non-Hispanic white youth. Failure to meet national dietary guidelines was common, differing significantly by demographic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Within a sample not typically thought of as needing assistance, nearly 25% were overweight or obese and the majority failed to meet dietary recommendations. While most patients could benefit from intervention, male, Hispanic, and lower income groups were in greatest need of assistance. Dental providers, who see youth frequently and already discuss nutrition in the context of oral health, have the opportunity to contribute to obesity prevention.
Research Associate, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Heath, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4770 ext 151, fax: 858-505-8614.
Katharine E
KE
Schmitz
Research Associate, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Heath, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4770 ext 112, fax: 858-505-8614.
Sandy
S
Liles
Research Associate, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Heath, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4770 ext 155, fax: 858-505-8614.
Ashley N
AN
Hyman
Adjunct Professor, Graduate School of Public Health, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, and Associate Director, CBEACH, San Diego State University, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Health and Department of Political Science, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4770 ext 142, fax: 858-505-8614.
C Richard
CR
Hofstetter
Research Associate and Adjunct Assistant Professor, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Heath, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4770 ext 128, fax: 858-505-8614.
Saori
S
Obayashi
Orthodontist in private practice of Dr. Melanie Parker and volunteer faculty at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 3737 Moraga Ave. # A-303, San Diego, CA 92117, USA, telephone: 858-274-0777, fax: 858-274-7604.
Melanie
M
Parker
Orthodontist & Pediatric Dentist in private practice of "Children's Braces & Dentistry", 4700 Spring St., Suite #104, La Mesa, CA 91942, USA, telephone: 619-461-6166, fax: 619-461-2508.
Santiago A
SA
Surillo
Chief Dental Program Consultant, State of California (retired), 10456 Ananda Lane, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USA, telephone: 916-708-6321.
David
D
Noel
Principal Investigator, Distinguished Professor, and Director, San Diego State University, Graduate School of Public Heath, The Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA, telephone: 858-505-4772, fax: 858-505-8614.
Melbourne F
MF
Hovell
Prevention; dietary intake; health promotion; obesity; weight status