Body mass index and periodontal health status among young Saudi adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been suggested as a risk factor for periodontal disease. Despite the high prevalence of obesity and over-weight among Saudi population, no study has assessed whether there is an association between periodontal health status and body mass index (BMI).OBJECTIVES: Assess the association between BMI and other variables with periodontal health status among young Saudi adults.DESIGN: Analytical, hospital-based cross-sectional study.SETTING: University dental hospital, Riyadh.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All dental students aged 21-35 years who met inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study. Periodontal health status was assessed by the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and community periodontal index (CPI) scores. Biometric measurements included weight, height and BMI. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of independent variables with periodontal disease (CPI>2 vs CPI ≤2) and multiple linear regression models to assess associations with PI and GI.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Periodontal health by BMI and other variables.SAMPLE SIZE: 308.RESULTS: Of 700 participants invited, 380 participated for a response rate of 54.2%. Slightly more than half of the obese subjects 54 (52%) did not brush their teeth regularly. The mean (standard deviation) PI and GI scores were significantly higher among the obese (PI score: 1.54 [0.45]); GI score: 1.52 [0.51]) and overweight (PI score: 1.36 [0.47]) and (GI score: 1.42 [0.57]) subjects when compared with subjects with normal weight (PI score: 1.27 [0.51]); (GI score: 1.31 [0.48]); (P<.05). No significant differences were seen between BMI groups in CPI scores. There were also no significant differences in the mean number and percentage of sextants between different BMI groups. The only signficant factor for periodontal disease in the multivariable analysis was toothbrushing.CONCLUSION: The present study shows a significant positive correlation between BMI and PI and GI scores. However, no statistically significant association was found between BMI and periodontal health status.LIMITATION: Cross-sectional, so not possible to assess the association of oral health and BMI over time.CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Reply to: “Comment on: Body mass index and periodontal health status among young Saudi adults: a cross-sectional study”

“… 3 However, it should be noted that the main purpose of our study was not to measure oral health status among dental students, but rather to assess the relationship between obesity and periodontal diseases. 2 Additionally, the findings of our study (with respect to the occurrence of periodontal diseases) were comparable with other local and regional studies. 4 , 5 Nevertheless, despite our stance we acknowledge that future multicenter, large-scale studies involving subjects with different backgrounds are required to confirm the association between obesity and periodontal diseases.…”

“…We would like to thank the authors for their valuable and constructive comments 1 regarding our published study entitled “Body mass index and periodontal health status among young Saudi adults: a cross-sectional study”. 2 Herein, we would like to highlight some important points. First, regarding the studied sample (being dental students), we totally agree that dental students usually have better oral health knowledge/behaviors and thus better oral health status than non-dental students.…”

Effect of obesity on risk and severity of periodontitis: a cross-sectional study

“…Fat distribution varies between woman and men and between race/ethnic groups. 23,24 Participants were taken from three district in central Jakarta which represent mixed ethnic in Indonesia and can be generalized as Indonesian sub population. The present study covered a slightly wider range of age from 18 up to 66 years old.…”

Tooth Loss and Its Association With Frequency of Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Yemeni Women

“…However, a plethora of factors including poor oral hygiene, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, advanced age, low socioeconomic status, stress, and systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, and osteoporosis, and pregnancy have been reported to increase the risk and severity of periodontitis (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”