Relationships between eating habits and periodontal condition in university students

Background: Overweight is a risk factor for periodontitis. Unhealthy eating habits, which could induce overweight, may be involved in the development of periodontitis in young people. The present study aimed to examine the relationships among overweight, eating habits, and periodontal condition in Japanese university students. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 801 university students aged 18 to 25 years (413 males, 388 females). The subjects were classified as underweight (BMI 2 were considered to have periodontitis. Results: The prevalence of underweight, normal weight, and overweight was 21%, 62% and 17%, respectively. In overweight subjects, periodontitis risk was increased by frequent consumption of fatty foods (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-5.2; P < 0.05) and reduced by frequent consumption of vegetables (adjusted odds ratio, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.7; P < 0.01). In the underweight and normal weight groups, eating habits did not differ significantly according to presence of periodontitis. Conclusion: In the overweight students, frequent consumption of fatty foods and infrequent consumption of vegetables were associated with increased risk of periodontitis. In the underweight and normal weight students, eating habits had little effect on periodontal condition