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The relationship between oral hygiene status and obesity among preschool children in Hong Kong

S M Peng1, C McGrath, H M Wong

  • 1Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

International Journal of Dental Hygiene
|May 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Oral hygiene status was not linked to childhood obesity in Hong Kong preschoolers after accounting for socio-demographic factors. This study found no significant association between plaque levels and obesity indicators in 5-year-olds.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health
  • Oral Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global concern.
  • Oral hygiene is crucial for overall health.
  • Understanding the interplay between oral health and obesity in young children is important for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between oral hygiene status and various measures of obesity in Hong Kong preschool children.
  • To determine if poor oral hygiene is a risk factor for obesity in this age group.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 324 five-year-old children in Hong Kong.
  • Oral hygiene assessed using the Visible Plaque Index (VPI).
  • Obesity indicators measured included weight-to-height ratio (W/H), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and triceps skinfold thickness (TRSKF).

Main Results:

  • Over half (56%) of the children had a high Visible Plaque Index (VPI ≥ 65.0%).
  • Initial bivariate analyses suggested associations between high VPI and weight-for-height z-score and waist circumference z-score.
  • However, these associations were not statistically significant after adjusting for socio-demographic factors.

Conclusions:

  • Oral hygiene status, as measured by VPI, was not significantly associated with obesity indicators in 5-year-old children in Hong Kong.
  • Socio-demographic factors appear to be important confounders in the relationship between oral hygiene and childhood obesity.
Abstract

Keywords:
body mass indexobesityoral hygienetriceps skinfold thicknesswaist circumferencewaist/hip ratioweight/height ratio

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