Obesity, Inflammation, and Periodontal Disease
THE NEXT DDS
Learning Objectives:
After hearing this podcast, the listener should:
- Understand
the pathophysiological relationship between obesity, periodontitis, and
other inflammatory diseases
- Be
better able to begin the conversation and to educate overweight patients
about the oral and systemic health risks associated with obesity
The prevalence of obesity has increased substantially over
the past decades in most industrialized countries. Obesity is defined by body
mass index, that being the ratio of an individual’s body weight in kilograms to
the square of their height in meters. It has also been found that obesity,
specifically in a young demographic, may lead to increased odds of contracting
periodontal disease.While a causal relationship between obesity and
periodontal disease has not yet been established, it has been concluded that
the adipose tissues actively secrete cytokines and hormones involved in the
inflammatory process, which suggests a similar pathophysiology between obesity,
periodontitis, and other inflammatory diseases. With these findings comes
additionally responsibility for the future dentists of the United States
and other developed nations where obesity represents a serious societal
problem.
Related Reading:
- http://thenextdds.com/Articles/Perio-Systemic-Obesity-and-the-Risk-of-Periodontitis-Link/
- http://thenextdds.com/Articles/The-Diabetes-Epidemic--Part-I/
- http://thenextdds.com/Blogs/Risk-Management/The-Importance-of-Consultation-with-the-Patient-s-Physician/
- http://thenextdds.com/Articles/Nutrition-Concepts---Part-I/
- http://thenextdds.com/Articles/Nutrition-Concepts---Part-IV/