Correlation and comparison of body mass index and oral health status among urban South Indian population: A pilot study

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity has increased internationally over the last decades, and it was in the 1990s the World Health Organization considered it as a global epidemic. The link between obesity and a series of diseases has been confirmed, particularly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The main cause of obesity is unhealthy or unbalanced diet combined with the lack of exercise. Obesity is also associated with periodontal disease, tooth loss, overall poor oral and general health. Obesity can be measured by measuring the body mass index (BMI). Prpić et al. stated that persons with an increased BMI had slightly worse dental health, as represented by higher dental index (caries, periodontitis, periapical lesions, and missing teeth) regardless of their tooth brushing routines. Aim: To correlate the association between obesity and oral health in Indian population. Study Design: A total of 100 subjects were equally divided into two groups (50 study and 50 control group). The study group comprised of individuals with BMI 25-29.99 (overweight), BMI >30 (obese) and the control group comprises of individuals with BMI 18.5-24.99 (normal). Individuals with any systemic disease and any kind of deleterious habits were excluded from the study. Oral examination was performed on the subjects, which included plaque index (PI), gingival index, periodontal index, decayed missing filled teeth index and the overall oral health. A food frequency questionnaire validated with a monthly dietary record was conducted for each patient. Tooth brushing habits were also recorded. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed by Chi-square test and student (unpaired) t-test. Results and Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between the BMI and oral health of obese individuals. The oral hygiene of obese patients was poor when compared to normal individuals.