Connection between obesity and dental health

Harvard researchers claim to have found evidence of obesity occurring prior to periodontal disease in a large group of people and suggest the two are connected.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Puerto Rico set out to answer the question of whether or not there was an association between obesity and one's dental health.

A total of 36,903 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were examined by the researchers. All participants were reportedly free of periodontal disease at the start of the study and were followed for 16 years. The men were mailed a questionnaire every two years with the participants self-reporting their obesity measurements as well as any indication of periodontal disease.

At the end of the study, it was found that those who were obese at the beginning of the research had a 25 to 29 percent increased risk of dental health problems when compared to men who were not obese.

The researchers concluded the study was significant due to the high prevalence of obesity in society. Health officials have recommended certain diets and nutritional supplements to maintain a healthy weight as well as routine dental care.

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