title: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in high school adolescents in Jeddah and the association of obesity association with dental caries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of overweight/obesity in children in Saudi Arabia is among the highest in the world. The prevalence of dental caries is also high in Saudi children. Studies on the relationship between caries and obesity in Saudi adolescents are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents, and determine any association between obesity and caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private and public schools in Jeddah.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample comprised high school children from public and private schools selected by multistage stratified random sampling. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and body mass index (BMI) were measured for all children, who were then classified as underweight/normal, overweight, or obese according to their BMI values, and nonobese or obese according to their WC values. The presence of caries was assessed using the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of overweight/obesity and the association of obesity with the number of decayed permanent teeth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  801 high school children (48% boys, 49% from public schools) with a mean (SD) age of 16.5 (0.9) years. When the BMI classification was used, 24%, 16%, and 60% adolescents were obese, overweight, and underweight/normal, respectively. When the WC classification was used, 19% and 81% were obese and nonobese, respectively. Obesity was more prevalent in boys and in students attending private schools (P < .05). The number of decayed permanent teeth showed a very weak and insignificant correlation with BMI and WC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in every four adolescents residing in Jeddah was obese, with a high obesity prevalence in boys and in children attending private schools. The prevalence of caries in the permanent dentition was not associated with BMI or WC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was difficult to establish temporality in this cross-sectional study. Data on common risk factors were not adjusted for in the analyses.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Deema Farsi, Department of Pediatric Dentistry,, King Abdulaziz University,, PO Box 17848, Jeddah 21494,, Saudi Arabia, T: +966126402000 Ext 20388, dfarsi@kau.edu.sa, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1371-913X.
authors.forename: Deema Jamil
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Farsi
authors.forename: Heba Mohammed
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Elkhodary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology