부산대학교 도서관

Objectives To explore the association between oral hygiene status and obesity among preschool children in Hong Kong. Methods Three hundred and twenty-four 5-year-old children in Hong Kong were recruited. Their oral hygiene status was recorded using visible plaque index ( VPI). Body height, body weight, waist circumference ( WC), hip circumference and triceps skinfold thickness ( TRSKF) were measured to assess general adiposity (weight/height ratio, W/H; body mass index, BMI), central adiposity ( WC; waist/hip ratio, WHR) and peripheral adiposity ( TRSKF). The relationships between VPI and W/H, BMI, WC, WHR and TRSKF were examined in bivariate and regression analyses. Results Fifty-six per cent of the children were considered to have high VPI ( VPI ≥ 65.0%). Logistic regression analyses identified that W/H z-score ( OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.01-1.61) and WC z-score ( OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.00-1.58) were associated with high VPI. No association was found after adjusted for socio-demographic status ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Oral hygiene status was not associated with obesity among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong after controlling for socio-demographic factors.