Body adiposity status in relation to oral hygiene status among preschool children in Hong Kong

Abstract

AIM: To determine associations between oral hygiene status and adiposity status among preschool children in Hong Kong. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A random sample of 324 5-year-old children was recruited. Oral hygiene status was recorded using visible plaque index (VPI). Adiposity status were assessed through general obesity (weight-height ratio, W/H), central obesity (waist circumference, WC), and peripheral obesity (triceps skinfold thickness). The relationships between VPI and obesity were examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of the children were considered to have high VPI (VPI ‡ 65.0%). Logistic regression analyses identified that W/H was associated with high VPI (OR = 1.28, P = 0.04). WC was borderline associated with high VPI (OR = 1.25, P = 0.05). No association was found after adjust for socio-demographic status (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral hygiene status was not associated with obesity among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong after controlling for socio-demographic factors.