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Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Child's weight as a risk factor for early childhood caries]
M V Korolenkova1,2, A G Khachatryan2, E S Ivanova3
1Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia.
Insights
Children with early childhood caries often have lower birth weight and are underweight. Further research is needed to understand the link between body weight and childhood dental caries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Child Nutrition
Background:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant public health issue.
- Nutritional status and body weight are recognized as potential influencing factors in ECC development.
- Understanding these correlations can inform preventive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between birth weight, body mass index (BMI), and the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in young children.
- To identify potential links between nutritional status and early childhood caries.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 220 healthy children aged 3-6 years.
- Data collection included birth weight, measured height and weight for BMI calculation (WHO criteria), and dmft index assessment by calibrated pediatric dentists.
- Children were recruited from nursery schools in Khimky city, Russia.
Main Results:
- Children with dental caries exhibited lower birth weights and difficulties in weight gain.
- A significantly higher proportion of children with caries were underweight (BMI < 15th percentile) or severely underweight (BMI < 5th percentile) compared to caries-free children (p<0.05).
- The specific mechanisms and directionality of the observed correlation remain undetermined.
Conclusions:
- A correlation exists between lower body weight (including birth weight and BMI) and the presence of early childhood caries.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of various factors related to body weight and nutritional status in the etiology of ECC.
- Investigating these factors can contribute to developing targeted interventions for caries prevention.
The Aim Of The Study:
Was to reveal possible correlation between child's birth weight, BMI at examination, dental caries prevalence and intensity.
Materials And Methods:
The study comprised 220 healthy children aged 3-6 born mature and attending nursery schools in Khimky city (Moscow region, Russia). Data on birth weight were extracted from a healthcare reports database, current height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated and interpreted according to WHO criteria. Calibrated pediatric dentists performed oral examination registering the dmft index.
Results:
Children suffering from dental caries at the age of 3-6, have lower birth weight and struggle to put it on later in life. This results in higher proportion of children with underweight. Among children with caries 69.2% had BMI lower than 15th percentile, and 28.3% had very low IMT (lower than 5th percentile) vs 5.6% in the group without caries (p<0.05). The mechanisms and the direction of this correlation are unclear.
Conclusion:
There is a necessity for further investigations on the role of various factors associated with body weight and alimentary status in the development of the early childhood caries.
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