Quality of life evaluation and the nutritional and masticatory characteristics of overweight and obese children

Author(s)

Darlle Santos Araujo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba
• Defense date: 2014-02-27

Examining board members

Paula Midori Castelo; Claudia Fegadolli; Kamila Rosamilia Kantovitz

• Advisor: Taís de Souza Barbosa; Paula Midori Castelo

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity in children has increased worldwide, and due to the impact in the overall health of these individuals, there is a need to determine the factors associated with this condition. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct the evaluation of the quality of life, nutritional and masticatory characteristics of children from public schools of Piracicaba (SP), of both genders, aged 8-10 years and divided in: underweight, normal-weight, overweight and obesity, according to BMI-for-age and gender reference (5-19 years) World Health Organization .For this purpose, two studies were performed. The aim of the first study (Assessment of quality of life , socioeconomic factors and caries experience in children with overweight and obese Piracicaba (SP, Brazil) - cross-sectional study) was to evaluate the association between overweight and obesity with quality of life, anxiety, caries experience and socioeconomic factors in schoolchildren. Anthropometric evaluation consisted of the measurement of triceps and subscapular skinfolds and arm and abdominal circumferences. Quality of life and anxiety were assessed using two validated scales: AUQUEI (Autoquestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé) and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC). Caries experience was evaluated by determining the DMFT and dmft indexes (total of decayed, missing and filled teeth) for permanent and primary teeth, respectively. The anamnestic and socioeconomic variables assessed were: prenatal and natal history, parental education, family income and possession of goods and services. The results were submitted to descriptive statistics, Chi- square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, psychometric properties of the scales and multiple logistic regression to determine the association of overweight/obesity with the studied variables (?=0.05). Results and Conclusion: The study included 313 children, being four with underweight, 188 with normal-weight, 67 overweight and 54 obese. It was observed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population (38.7%), and children with different nutritional patterns did not differ in quality of life and anxiety scores. But children from families with higher possession of goods and services were more likely to present weight excess. The second study (Evaluation of parameters of masticatory function in children with overweight and obese) aimed to evaluate parameters of masticatory function and the relationship between bite force (BF) and anthropometric variables, food consistency, suckling and occlusion in 204 children, being 122 individuals with normal-weight, 45 with overweight and 37 obese. Unilateral BF was assessed using a digital gnathodynamometer with fork strength of 10 mm. Anthropometric and nutritional evaluation included measurements of weight, height and body skeletal muscle mass using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Occlusion was assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and food consistency was checked by applying a specific questionnaire to their parents/guardians. It was also investigated the duration of breast- and bottle-feeding and the presence of parafunctional habits. The results were submitted to descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, analysis of variance, correlation tests and multiple logistic regression to determine the relationship between BF and the independent studied variables (?=0.05). Results and Conclusion: The duration of breast- and bottle-feeding and food consistency did not differ between children with normal-weight, overweight and obesity. But BF was positively related to skeletal muscle mass and negatively related with body mass index and orthodontic treatment need (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/15621-5 - Quality of life evaluation and the nutritional and masticatory characteristics of pre pubertal overweight and obese children
• Grantee: Darlle Santos Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master