IADR Abstract Archives
Effective Obesity Prevention in Dental Settings through Healthy Weight Intervention
Objectives: Preventing adulthood obesity through early, frequent intervention from early childhood is essential to decrease chronic disease prevalence. The dental setting can provide opportunities for obesity prevention through a Healthy Weight Intervention (HWI). This study measured changes in obesity risk behaviors over a one-year period.
Methods: 209 children 2.5-6 years old were recruited. The HWI was implemented over 1 year following a 6-month recall schedule, and consisted of calculating a child’s Body Mass Index percentile, assessing obesity risk factors, then setting individualized goals to improve those behaviors. Using motivational interviewing techniques, hygienists worked with parents and children to complete the HWI, addressing diet, physical activity, and eating behaviors.
Results: 78.31% of children were normal weight (5-85th percentile), 15.63% were overweight or obese (>85th percentile), and 6.06% were underweight (<5th percentile). For the baseline visit, a majority of children engaged in unhealthy behaviors. 78% of children consumed <5 of the daily-recommended fruit and vegetable servings. Fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed in greater-than-recommended quantities by 68% and 55% of the children respectively. An improvement in healthy behaviors was observed from baseline to the recall visit. Consumption of soda beverages decreased from 33% to 28%. Fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.54 to 2.76 servings per day, and 2.06 to 2.68 servings per day respectively. In contrast to when HWI was administered to an older age group in previous studies, breakfast was consumed at already high levels, 95% of children, and increased to 100% at the second visit.
Conclusions: Results from this study confirm that HWI is effective in 2.5 – 6 year olds. There was a decrease in unhealthy behavior over time and an increase in healthy behaviors, showing the efficacy of the HWI in the dental setting. The tools we developed in our study can serve as the basis for dental office-based obesity prevention.
Methods: 209 children 2.5-6 years old were recruited. The HWI was implemented over 1 year following a 6-month recall schedule, and consisted of calculating a child’s Body Mass Index percentile, assessing obesity risk factors, then setting individualized goals to improve those behaviors. Using motivational interviewing techniques, hygienists worked with parents and children to complete the HWI, addressing diet, physical activity, and eating behaviors.
Results: 78.31% of children were normal weight (5-85th percentile), 15.63% were overweight or obese (>85th percentile), and 6.06% were underweight (<5th percentile). For the baseline visit, a majority of children engaged in unhealthy behaviors. 78% of children consumed <5 of the daily-recommended fruit and vegetable servings. Fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed in greater-than-recommended quantities by 68% and 55% of the children respectively. An improvement in healthy behaviors was observed from baseline to the recall visit. Consumption of soda beverages decreased from 33% to 28%. Fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.54 to 2.76 servings per day, and 2.06 to 2.68 servings per day respectively. In contrast to when HWI was administered to an older age group in previous studies, breakfast was consumed at already high levels, 95% of children, and increased to 100% at the second visit.
Conclusions: Results from this study confirm that HWI is effective in 2.5 – 6 year olds. There was a decrease in unhealthy behavior over time and an increase in healthy behaviors, showing the efficacy of the HWI in the dental setting. The tools we developed in our study can serve as the basis for dental office-based obesity prevention.