UNLABELLED: Evidence suggests that older adults with extensive tooth loss may present dietetic restrictions and frequently choose softer and more processed foods, which consequently may lead to obesity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there was an association between dental status and central obesity in community-dwelling elderly. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A simple random sample of 471 community-dwelling Brazilian elderly ranging from 60 to 89 years old was evaluated in 2006. A questionnaire on socio-demographic, behaviour, general and oral health variables was applied. The number of natural teeth and the use of dental prostheses, following the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The circumferences of the waist and the hip were measured in order to provide the waist circumference (WC) and the waist-hip ratio (WHR) measures. For both measures, participants were categorised as non-obese or obese according to the WHO-established cut-off points. RESULTS: Participants with more than 8 teeth were less likely to have central obesity, as measured by WHR [OR = 0.49 (0.32 to 0.87)], while participants with only 1-8 natural teeth were more likely to have central obesity when evaluated by WC [OR = 3.28 (CI 1.43 to 7.52)]. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss was associated with central obesity, even when controlled for confounders, suggesting a relationship between oral health status and nutritional status in this sample of community-dwelling Brazilian elderly. Preserving natural teeth may have a positive impact on the nutritional status of older adults and on obesity-related morbidity.
UNLABELLED: Evidence suggests that older adults with extensive tooth loss may present dietetic restrictions and frequently choose softer and more processed foods, which consequently may lead to obesity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there was an association between dental status and central obesity in community-dwelling elderly. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A simple random sample of 471 community-dwelling Brazilian elderly ranging from 60 to 89 years old was evaluated in 2006. A questionnaire on socio-demographic, behaviour, general and oral health variables was applied. The number of natural teeth and the use of dental prostheses, following the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The circumferences of the waist and the hip were measured in order to provide the waist circumference (WC) and the waist-hip ratio (WHR) measures. For both measures, participants were categorised as non-obese or obese according to the WHO-established cut-off points. RESULTS:Participants with more than 8 teeth were less likely to have central obesity, as measured by WHR [OR = 0.49 (0.32 to 0.87)], while participants with only 1-8 natural teeth were more likely to have central obesity when evaluated by WC [OR = 3.28 (CI 1.43 to 7.52)]. CONCLUSIONS:Tooth loss was associated with central obesity, even when controlled for confounders, suggesting a relationship between oral health status and nutritional status in this sample of community-dwelling Brazilian elderly. Preserving natural teeth may have a positive impact on the nutritional status of older adults and on obesity-related morbidity.
Authors: M P M Rando-Meirelles; M L R Sousa; G C Vale; V A Lages; P P Vásquez; P Jimenez; R S Villena; M A Alvarez-Paucar Journal: Obes Sci Pract Date: 2019-01-28