Targeting Teeth: Pediatric Obesity and the Dental Office

摘要

The prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity has increased more than 300% since the 1960s. These trends will likely have major public health implications including higher rates of type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular complications, and orthopedic problems among children, adolescents and adults. The etiology of childhood obesity is multifactorial. Two contributing factors include: (1) environmental factors, such as overexposure to advertising for high-fat foods and the abundance of fast food and (2) behavioral factors, such as eating while watching television and the overconsumption of high-fat, high-sugar beverages and foods. Interestingly, the increasing prevalence of obesity parallels the increase in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by children and adolescents. Current evidence, including a recent meta-analysis, supports the association between sugar-sweetened beverages intake and obesity and suggests a reduction in population soft drink consumption.