Kuo-Ting Sun1, Shih-Chueh Chen2, Yu-Fen Li3, Hsien-Hsiung Chiang4, Hung-Huey Tsai5, Chi-Yuan Li6, Ming-Gene Tu7. 1. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatric Dentistry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Endocrinology, Cheng Ching Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 3. Institute of Biostatistics, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 4. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 5. Department of Oral Hygiene, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Anesthesiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: cyli168@gmail.com. 7. School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mgtu@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Maximal bite force of the jaw can cause thorough food chewing and result in good digestion. Bite force is related to the health of the masticatory muscles. Muscle force is frequently affected by obesity in adolescence, however, little is known about how obesity influences the maximum bite force and the difference between genders. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-seven adolescent students (292 girls and 285 boys), aged 13-16 years, from central Taiwan were recruited for a cross-sectional study in 2009. The maximum bite force, hand strength, triceps skin-fold fat thickness, serum level of testosterone, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Dental health was evaluated based on malocclusion and dental caries. RESULTS: Bite force in girls was highest in the obese group (32.49 ± 19.13 kg, mean ± standard deviation), whereas in boys it was higher in the overweight group (41.89 ± 19.3 kg) than in the obese group (33.21 ± 17.12 kg). The prevalence of obesity was twofold higher in boys (14.39%) than in girls (7.88%). The mean serum level of testosterone increased with BMI in girls (p = 0.0172), whereas it decreased with BMI in boys (p = 0.0014). The relationships of serum testosterone level and bite force with BMI were similar in the two gender groups. CONCLUSION: The maximum bite force decreased in obese boys but increased in obese girls, which may be due to the sensitivity to testosterone being modulated by the fat level.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Maximal bite force of the jaw can cause thorough food chewing and result in good digestion. Bite force is related to the health of the masticatory muscles. Muscle force is frequently affected by obesity in adolescence, however, little is known about how obesity influences the maximum bite force and the difference between genders. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-seven adolescent students (292 girls and 285 boys), aged 13-16 years, from central Taiwan were recruited for a cross-sectional study in 2009. The maximum bite force, hand strength, triceps skin-fold fat thickness, serum level of testosterone, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Dental health was evaluated based on malocclusion and dental caries. RESULTS: Bite force in girls was highest in the obese group (32.49 ± 19.13 kg, mean ± standard deviation), whereas in boys it was higher in the overweight group (41.89 ± 19.3 kg) than in the obese group (33.21 ± 17.12 kg). The prevalence of obesity was twofold higher in boys (14.39%) than in girls (7.88%). The mean serum level of testosterone increased with BMI in girls (p = 0.0172), whereas it decreased with BMI in boys (p = 0.0014). The relationships of serum testosterone level and bite force with BMI were similar in the two gender groups. CONCLUSION: The maximum bite force decreased in obeseboys but increased in obesegirls, which may be due to the sensitivity to testosterone being modulated by the fat level.
Authors: Marwa M S Abbass; Nermeen AbuBakr; Israa Ahmed Radwan; Dina Rady; Sara El Moshy; Mohamed Ramadan; Attera Ahmed; Ayoub Al Jawaldeh Journal: F1000Res Date: 2019-03-01