Summary
Given the high rates of childhood obesity, it is necessary to collect current information to guide new prevention programs in earlier stages of adolescent development. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the nutritional status of 17-year-old adolescents of educational establishments in Florida, eighth region, Chile, and its relation with dental caries prevalence in permanent dentition (COPD). A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in a sample of 86 students, using a previously validated survey, about the dietary intake of the last 24 hours, which was applied three times; weight and height were also considered. During an interview information was obtained about sex, rural and urban background. Finally a dental examination of the history of decay was applied (COPD index, in Spanish). Test materials used were masks, latex gloves, and stadiometer calibrated weight and height rod. According to the nutritional status, 2% of adolescents were underweight, 58% had a normal weight and 40% were obese, the rate of obesity is higher in women in proportion to men, where nearly 50% of cases were in obese condition and were statistically significant. Moreover, a homogeneous distribution was observed, regardless of where they came from (rural or urban conditions). In relation to COPD index, an 8.87 in male and 9.28 in female were obtained with no significant differences between men and women. In addition, there was no statistical significance on COPD in relation to the nutritional status. It was observed that 17-year-old adolescents from Florida´s educational establishments present a nutritional deficit status reflected in high obese percentages, which according to WHO, was also related to a significant history of decay.
KEY WORDS: adolescents, caries history, nutrition.
How to cite this article
ARAYA, V. C.; MARCHANT, O. D.; RIVAS, D. P.; PALMA, T. C. & POBLETE, F. O. Nutritional status of 17-year-old adolescents and its relation with caries history. Florida 2011. Int. J. Odontostomat., 8(2):171-176, 2014.
