Extra Weight May Up Risk For Tooth Loss
January 21, 2009

by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Being overweight can lead to many health problems. Now, a study has found that younger obese adults are at risk for tooth loss.

Researchers from Karlstad University in Skövde, Sweden, did the study. They found that obese adults aged 30 to 59 had twice the risk of missing at least 12 teeth, including wisdom teeth. Obese people ages 60 and older did not have this risk.

The researchers also looked at abdominal obesity, or belly fat. People who were obese and "apple shaped" had the same increase in risk as the larger group of obese people.

The study considered the effects of age, sex, family income and other health conditions. Even after taking all of these into account, younger obese adults were still at risk for tooth loss.

The study involved about 2,400 adults, ages 30 to 74.

Other research has found links between obesity and tooth loss. Some studies have shown that people who lose many of their natural teeth are more likely to be obese. This may be because tooth loss can make it difficult to eat certain foods.

The Swedish study appears in the January issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.