Video Evaluation of Chewing Function in Patients with Obesity

Method: 38 subjects, 6 males and 32 females (mean age 41 years ±SD=11) presenting morbid obesity (mean BMI: 47±10) chewed five food types differing in texture and density. The subjects were classified according to their number of functional dental units, those having removable denture being not included. Chewing duration, number of chewing cycles were analysed in random order from recorded video sessions. Chewing frequency was calculated for each food from these data. A control group of 16 healthy fully dentate subjects (25 ±3 years, mean BMI =22 ±2) was evaluated in a similar way.

Results: In the group of patient with obesity ANOVA (P=0.01) showed that the variation of chewing frequency is affected by BMI (F=12), number of dental units (F=13), food type (F=30) and gender (F=51). Chewing frequency decreased with the number of dental units and increased with BMI (Student-Newman-Keuls test (á=0.05)). Male subjects with obesity have a higher chewing frequency than females (t-test, p<0.01). In fully dentate patients with obesity (n=30) chewing frequency was significantly lower (t test, p<0.01) than in controls.

Conclusion: Patients with obesity have a specific masticatory pattern, characterised by low chewing frequency for a food type. The relationship between BMI, dental status and chewing frequency suggests that dental health should be optimised in those patients with obesity indicated for bypass surgery.