Teenage students show varied body mass and dental decay scores
Malnutrition and tooth decay rarely point to a single cause among teenage students at Indonesian Islamic boarding schools, according to a cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects.
Researchers examined 85 male students aged 14 to 17 at a boarding school in Bogor during 2024. They found that 65.5% of the teenagers had a normal body mass index, while 18.8% were overweight and 10.6% were obese.
Dental examinations conducted by specialist dentists revealed that 55.3% of the participants had very low decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores. However, 10.6% displayed high to very high caries experience.
Body weight does not significantly correlate with dental damage
Students with higher body mass index figures clustered in both the lowest and highest dental decay categories. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between body weight and dental damage scores.
Uniform diets, shared daily schedules, and communal hygiene habits inside boarding schools limit variations in both health markers. Researchers said that excess sugar consumption in communal environments drives a dual burden of nutrition and dental issues.
“The findings serve as a reminder that maintaining adolescent health is not enough just to pay attention to body weight or dental hygiene separately,” study authors explained.
Common questions about the study
How were body mass and dental decay measured?
Researchers measured student weight and height to determine body mass index categories using CDC-2000 standards. Specialist dentists performed direct oral examinations to evaluate decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores according to World Health Organization guidelines.
Who conducted the research?
Laifa Annisa Hendarmin led a team of researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, alongside colleagues Muhammad Faiza Ma’ruf, Risahmawati, Witri Ardini, and Sarah At Tauhidah.
“It needs an integrated approach that considers diet, hygiene habits, and cultural values that apply in the pesantren environment itself,” researchers stated regarding future student health programs.
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