This summary is based on the article published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology: Is weight gain associated with the incidence of periodontitis? A systematic review and meta-analysis (June 2015)
Gustavo G. Nascimento, Fabio R.M. Leite, Loc G. Do, Karen G. Peres, Marcos B. Correa, Flavio F. Demarco and Marco A. Peres
Context
- When an unbalance between calorific intake and energy expenditure occurs, the body may excessively accumulate fat leading to overweight and further to obesity (Martinez et al. 2014).
- Several reports have demonstrated the adverse effects of obesity on chronic health outcomes, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and cancer (Falagas & Kompoti 2006, Kahn et al. 2006, Van Gaal et al. 2006, Friedman 2009).
- Amongst the most prevalent chronic diseases, periodontitis is a destructive condition affecting the supporting structures of the teeth, which develops through an inflammatory process mainly induced by the presence of a microbial biofilm (Van Dyke & van Winkelhoff 2013).
Purpose of the Review
To conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of weight gain on the incidence of periodontitis in adults.
Key Findings
- Findings demonstrated that individuals who became overweight or obese presented higher risk to develop new cases of periodontitis than those who stayed normal weight in the same period.
- Given that both conditions, obesity/ overweight and periodontitis, are chronic diseases, it is expected that they share common risk factors, such as low socioeconomic position (Thomson et al. 2012, Adair et al. 2013).
- As subjects from a disadvantaged background present higher prevalence rates of obesity and overweight (Adair et al. 2013) and periodontitis, a consistent social pattern is observed.
- Clinicians should be aware of the role played by weight gain on the development of new cases of periodontitis, as it seems to be a risk factor for the establishment of such condition.
References
Obesity and weight gain are also associated with increased risk of diabetes. Does this review take into consideration the diabetic status of the subjects and account for the connection between diabetes and periodontal status in their findings?