Dentists can stop children from becoming fat

Dentists can stop children from becoming fat and may be the best weapon to fight rising obesity rates, researchers claim.

Teaching youngsters to avoid sugary snacks, that will wreak havoc on their teeth, will also help to battle bulging waistlines.

Poor oral health, caused by diets high in junk food, and large BMIs are inextricably linked, the study found.

This theory is put forward in a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the Swedish Institute of Medicine. 

Children with the worst dental health regime tend to be the most overweight, said the study led by Louise Arvidsson, a registered dietitian and PhD student.

Teaching youngsters to avoid sugary snacks, that will wreak havoc on their teeth, will also help to battle bulging waistlines, researchers believe

How does her theory work? 

If a child’s dental health could be improved, then their weight problem is statistically likely to lessen, according to her theory, which attaches a direct cause and effect to the link between the two.

Changing a child’s dental health regime is easier than asking them to eat less, which often creates a negative reaction. 

Dental health regimes offer a weight loss strategy that is less likely to meet resistance from children, said Ms Arvidsson.

‘Weight can be a sensitive subject, but if you talk about eating behaviors alongside dental health, you’re looking at the issue from a different angle,’ argued Ms Arvidsson.

How was the study carried out? 

She reviewed eating behavior, BMI and dental health of 271 pre-school and primary school children in Sweden.

SERVE WATER WITH SCHOOL LUNCHES

Serving water with school lunches makes children less likely to become obese, according to University of Illinois research today.

A five-year pilot study in 1,200 elementary and middle schools in New York City found that placing water dispensers in cafeterias is more successful than ensuring healthy food is sold during lunch.

Expanding the program nationwide could prevent more than half a million children in the US from piling on the pounds.

The percentage of children with obesity in the US has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children is obese.

The children’s height, weight and food intake over one day were compared with the prevalence of cavity-causing bacteria in saliva.

According to Ms Arvidsson the link was clear. The children who had higher amount of caries bacteria also had significantly higher BMI and worse eating habits. 

The children with higher levels of oral bacteria ate more frequently and consumed more foods rich in sugar.

Educating children about food habits at an early age calls for close collaboration between the dental sector, child health advisors and schools.

‘There has been a lot of focus on physical activity and mental health in children, but diet is an increasingly recognised aspect,’ said Ms Arvidsson.  

Counterproductive warnings 

Ms Arvidsson’s data analysis found that directly warning children about their weight is counterproductive. 

Children between the age of 2-10 who were stopped from eating by their parents were generally overweight 5-6 years later.

‘Stopping your child from eating too much or putting them on a diet clearly doesn’t work. You really have to look at other methods to control a child’s eating habits,’ said Ms Arvidsson. 

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