CORRELATION BETWEEN DENTAL CARIES AND BODY MASSINDEX AMONGST 19-24 YEARS OLD UNIVERSITYSTUDENTS, KARACHI

Abstract

Obesity and dental caries are both multifactorial diseases that are most commonly associated with the diet and quality of the lifestyle. Worldwide there is increase in body weight which is due to the consumption of sugar enriched drinks, junk food and a decrease in physical activity. The present cross sectional study was conducted for six months at the Department of Operative Dentistry, Baqai Dental College from June 2014 to January 2015.The data were collected from 200 university students. A cluster sampling technique was done to assess the association between obesity and dental caries.Slight significant association was noticed between obesity and dental caries.Overweight/obesity and dental caries experience were slightly significantly associated with students of Baqai Medical University, Karachi. Both obesity and caries have common risk determinants and require a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach by health care professionals.