Association between Pediatric Obesity and Periodontal Health: A Systematic Review

Background: The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in a rather short period, doubling for adults and tripling in children and adolescents. An increasing amount of data points to a close connection between pediatric obesity and periodontal health. Objective: This systematic review aimed to determine the association between pediatric obesity and periodontal health and to evaluate how pediatric obesity influences periodontal disease. Methods: Two authors independently reviewed the papers for inclusion, extracted data, and evaluated research quality by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Research and Meta-Analysis) standards. By analyzing databases such as PubMed and Medline, a qualitative study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between pediatric obesity and periodontal disease. PROSPERO provided the registration number (CRD42024504231) for this study protocol. Results: The total number of research studies identified in the data search was screened, checked for eligibility, and included studies’characteristics showing the association between pediatric obesity and periodontal disease were summarized. Qualitative analysis of the included studies resulted in the assessment of the association between pediatric obesity and periodontal disease. Conclusion: Although the evidence was of inadequate quality, pediatric obesity might have an adverse influence on periodontal disease. To prove causation, more excellent longitudinal studies using standardized evaluations are required. Trial registration: The present protocol was registered on 30th January 2024, with registration ID CRD42024504231 with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).