Relationship between severe early childhood caries and body mass index

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Public Health Nutrition
• Child Development

Background:

• Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) is a significant oral health problem in young children.
• The relationship between S-ECC and nutritional status, specifically Body Mass Index (BMI), requires further investigation.
• Understanding this link is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between S-ECC and BMI in healthy school-aged children (3-6 years) in Mathura, India.
• To compare the BMI of children with S-ECC to that of caries-free children.
• To identify potential correlations between oral health status and body weight categories.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study included 200 children (3-6 years), with 100 caries-free and 100 diagnosed with S-ECC, excluding those with medical conditions.
• Standardized measurements of weight (kg) and height (m) were taken to calculate BMI (kg/m²).
• Body weight status was assessed using CDC classification, and independent t-tests analyzed differences in weight, height, and BMI between groups.

Main Results:

• While S-ECC children had higher mean weight, the difference was not statistically significant compared to caries-free children.
• A statistically significant higher mean BMI was observed in children with S-ECC compared to caries-free children (p < 0.05).
• CDC classification revealed a high prevalence of underweight (48% in normal, 45% in S-ECC) and normal weight (43% in normal) categories, with few children overweight or at risk.

Conclusions:

• A positive correlation exists between higher BMI and S-ECC in the studied population.
• Despite the positive BMI correlation, a significant proportion of both caries-free and S-ECC children fall into the underweight category.
• Findings highlight the complex interplay between oral health and nutritional status in early childhood.