Burden of oral diseases predicts development of excess weight in early adolescence: a 2-year longitudinal study

Dental caries, gingivitis, and excess weight are highly prevalent, interconnected chronic conditions. The association of oral health with the development of adiposity among children is sparsely addressed. We examined the association of oral health to the development of excess weight and central obesity in early adolescence during a 2-year follow-up period. This prospective study was conducted with 2702 children aged 9–12 years at baseline from the Finnish Health in Teens study. Their weight development was followed up for 2 years. Body mass index with age- and sex-specific cut-offs and the waist–height ratio indicated weight status and central obesity. Oral health data (caries experience and gingivitis/calculus) were collected from outpatient records of public dental services. Having both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus was considered burden of oral diseases. Of the sample, 74% were caries-free but 70% exhibited gingivitis and/or calculus, and 20% had both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus. During the follow-up period, 5.3% (n = 124) and 4.7% (n = 118) of the children became overweight/obese or centrally obese, respectively. Having both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus associated with the development of excess weight in a fully adjusted model (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.03–2.97) but not of central obesity. Caries experience or gingivitis/calculus alone did not associate with adiposity development. Conclusion: Having burden of oral diseases without excess weight at early adolescence could imply future weight gain; thus, normal-weight individuals with both caries experience and gingivitis/calculus could be targeted with preventive measures. Our findings warrant further research to explore whether oral diseases and the development of obesity merely share risk factors or if their relationship is of causal nature. (Table presented.).