Dependence of the Dental Status of Young Individuals with Different Body Weights on their Eating Behavior

Abstract

Obesity is a global problem of modern society. According to the WHO, in 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight and about 650 million adults are obese. Numerous studies indicate the role of overweight, obesity and metabolic status on periodontal health, however, the mechanism of their development is not fully understood. The aim of the study was to explore the mechanism of periodontal disease development in patients with diverse body mass index and the mechanism of extra weight and obesity onset in these patients. The study involved 132 Ukrainian males and females, 18 - 22 years old. Body mass index was determined in all patients. Information on life history, illness and family history was collected. The assessment of dental status was conducted by indicating the oral and tongue hygiene indices and periodontal indices. Eating behaviour was assessed using the standardised Dutch eating behaviour questionnaire (DEBG) and the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ R-18). Diet assessment was determined by standardized diet questionnaire. More than 60% of young people with the 1st and 2nd degree obesity had eating disorders, the most prevalent were disturbance of cognitive restraint and emotional eating components of eating behavior. The prevalence of periodontal disease was significantly higher in obese individuals, up to 87% in patients with the 1st and 2nd degree obesity. Eating behavior disturbances play a crucial role in the development of obesity in young adults and onset of gingivitis. The cause of non-plaque-induced gingivitis in patients with the 1st and 2nd degree obesity is a impaired general host response to the pathogenic factors of the oral cavity, caused by excess adipose tissue, which led to the development of chronic systemic mild inflammation. That is why these patients need a specific, integrated periodontal treatment.