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Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Association between overweight and early childhood caries]
Insights
Overweight children have a significantly higher risk of developing early childhood caries (ECC). This study highlights the need for early intervention and collaboration between healthcare providers to prevent both conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Nutritional Science
- Dental Public Health
Context:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) poses a significant public health challenge globally.
- Overweight and obesity rates are increasing in preschool-aged children.
- Understanding the relationship between nutritional status and oral health is crucial for preventive strategies.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between overweight status and the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC) in preschoolers.
- To determine if being overweight is a risk factor for developing ECC.
Summary:
- A retrospective cohort study followed 196 children from under 2 years old up to age 5.
- Overweight children (57.14%) had a higher incidence of ECC compared to normal-weight children (40.82%).
- Overweight status was identified as a significant risk factor for ECC, with a relative risk of 1.4.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the importance of integrated care pathways between healthcare professionals diagnosing overweight children and pediatric dentists.
- Early detection and preventive interventions for both overweight and ECC are recommended.
- This research can inform public health policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of both conditions in young children.
Objective:
To determine whether overweight is a risk factor for the development of early childhood caries (ECC) in preschoolers.
Patients And Method:
An observational retrospective cohort study was performed in 196 children under 2 years of age at Calbuco Hospital, Los Lagos Region, Chile, who were admitted between 2007 and 2009. Patients were grouped based on their nutritional status at admission in the two following categories: eutrophic and overweighed children as a result of excessive intake. Information regarding caries incidence and nutritional status were annually retrieved from records until the age of 5 years, according to medical and dental records.
Results:
At the beginning of the study, 33.67% were overweight and 16.33% were obese, reaching 40% overweight and 20.56% obese at four years of age. The incidence of early childhood caries in overweighed children was 57.14% compared to 40.82% in normal weight children (p = 0.022), with 1.4 RR (95% CI, 1044-1.88).
Conclusions:
The increased risk of early childhood decay in overweighed patients makes necessary to create instances of timely mutual referral between the professional that diagnoses overweighed children and the pediatric dentist in order to develop preventive treatments for both diseases.
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