Association Between Periodontal Disease and Obesity in a Sample of Libyan Adults

Obesity is a growing chronic health issue all around the globe. It has a serious number of complications. It has shown through several observational and clinical trials its association with periodontal disease. Both chronic illnesses have a bidirectional relationship.

A case control study involved 208 patients in total, 104 individuals in each group. Periodontal examination was done for both groups. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and neck circumference (NC) was measured by a dietician. Chi-square test and independent t-test were used to compare between the two groups. A multiple regression analysis was done to assess the relationship between multiple factors.

The case group included obese subjects with BMI ≥ 30. The control group BMI index was ≤ 24. There was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to the oral hygiene measures. However, significant difference was noticed regarding periodontal parameters such as Higher Pocket depth (PD) and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) in the obese groups with a p-value of 0.001. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant relation between periodontal disease and the following factors; male gender, increasing in BMI, NC, and WC.

There is a relationship between obesity and periodontal disease. The higher level of BMI, WC, and NC was associated with increased prevalence of periodontal disease. Therefore, obesity is considered a high risk for periodontal disease. More awareness and education are needed among obese subjects.