Caries, obesity and diet in children and adolescents
Introduction
Caries in children and adolescents in Denmark has declined over the past several decades. Obesity in Europe and in Denmark has increased significantly in recent years, however, recent studies of Danish children and adolescents indicate a decline in this development.
Milk, dairy products and calcium intake has been associated with reduction in overweight among children and adolescents, as well as having a beneficial effect on caries. Moreover, the relationship between caries and overweight / obesity is a growing area of research. Caries and obesity coexists in many communities. The development of caries is associated with many factors, such as: diet, salivation, fluoride, oral hygiene, socioeconomic status. Obesity among children and adolescents is also associated with many of the same factors.There may therefore may be common risk factors for both caries and overweight and obesity.
Purpose
A brief review of the literature that examines the relationship between caries and overweight /obesity among children and adolescents.
Method
Literature review of studies published from 2000 to 2016, which examine the relationship between caries and overweight /obesity in children and adolescents.
Results
The literature does not show a clear relationship between caries and overweight /obesity in children and adolescents.
Conclusion
There is no clear relation between caries prevalence and overweight / obesity in children and adolescents. There is also no clear or simple relationship between dietary intake and overweight /obesity in children and adolescents. Dairy products can have a positive effect on both the incidence of caries and the prevalence of overweight /obesity in children and adolescents. The aetiologies of both conditions are multifactorial condition and therefore complex to investigate.