The Correlation Between Body Mass Index and Oral Health in 12-Year-Old Students in Tehran During 2011

The growing prevalence of being overweight and obesity in children has raised significant public health concerns. Obesity is considered a risk factor for several chronic health conditions and is associated with increased mortality. In addition, recent studies have shown an association between obesity and periodontal disease..
The present study sought to assess the correlation of body mass index (BMI) with periodontal disease..
A total of 1,024 12-year-old elementary school students were selected by cluster sampling from five regions of Tehran. BMI was used as a measure of being overweight and obesity, and the oral hygiene index (OHI) was used to assess periodontal disease. A linear regression model was applied to estimate the association between BMI and OHI. The parents’ level of education and family income were also evaluated..
A significant association was found between BMI and OHI (P = 0.001). Also, a significant reverse correlation was detected between the parents’ education level with OHI (P Obesity is not a potential risk factor for periodontal disease in children of low-income families. However, periodontal disease is associated with increased BMI. Promotion of healthy nutrition and adequate physical activity may prevent the progression of periodontal disease..