The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Studies suggested a relationship between anxiety and Body Mass Index (BMI). However, dental anxiety and BMI was not previously investigated. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of BMI levels on dental anxiety and behavior among pediatric patients. Methods Childr...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05813-w |
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| author | Narmin Helal Lama Yaseen Faran Rana Abdullah Dashash Jihan Turkistani Hind Youssuf Tallab Fawziah Musaad Aldosari Somaya Ismail Alhafi Heba Jafar Sabbagh |
| author_facet | Narmin Helal Lama Yaseen Faran Rana Abdullah Dashash Jihan Turkistani Hind Youssuf Tallab Fawziah Musaad Aldosari Somaya Ismail Alhafi Heba Jafar Sabbagh |
| author_sort | Narmin Helal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Studies suggested a relationship between anxiety and Body Mass Index (BMI). However, dental anxiety and BMI was not previously investigated. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of BMI levels on dental anxiety and behavior among pediatric patients. Methods Children 6–11 years attending four-referral centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and their parents were interrogated. The BMI level scores, child’s behavior (Frankel’s classification) and dental-anxiety (Abeer Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS)) were evaluated. Results Out of 952 children participated in this study, 496 (52.1%) had normal BMI, 264 (27.7%) had high BMI (overweight), and 192 (20.2%) had low BMI (underweight). Regression analysis found that overweight was significantly associated with an increased adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of dental anxiety (AOR = 3.018) and uncooperative dental behavior (AOR = 8.714) with p < 0.001. Also, statistically significant increase in the odds ratio (OR) of the child feeling shy in the clinic (P = 0.002; OR:2.113) and parents/operators reporting child behaving scared (P = 0.004; OR:1.985 and p < 0.001; OR:3.03, respectively) when overweight compared to normal-weight. Conclusions This study highlights the impact of overweight on the emotional and behavioral dimensions of the child’s dental experience as they significantly increased the probability of dental anxiety and uncooperative behavior by three and eight times, respectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4cfe4b337f2145838bfc146fd4f5c76f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6831 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Oral Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-4cfe4b337f2145838bfc146fd4f5c76f2025-08-20T03:53:32ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-04-012511910.1186/s12903-025-05813-wThe relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional studyNarmin Helal0Lama Yaseen Faran1Rana Abdullah Dashash2Jihan Turkistani3Hind Youssuf Tallab4Fawziah Musaad Aldosari5Somaya Ismail Alhafi6Heba Jafar Sabbagh7Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Dental Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health AffairsKing Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Saudi Board of Pediatric DentistryFaculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityFaculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityPediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz UniversityAbstract Background Studies suggested a relationship between anxiety and Body Mass Index (BMI). However, dental anxiety and BMI was not previously investigated. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of BMI levels on dental anxiety and behavior among pediatric patients. Methods Children 6–11 years attending four-referral centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and their parents were interrogated. The BMI level scores, child’s behavior (Frankel’s classification) and dental-anxiety (Abeer Dental Anxiety Scale (ACDAS)) were evaluated. Results Out of 952 children participated in this study, 496 (52.1%) had normal BMI, 264 (27.7%) had high BMI (overweight), and 192 (20.2%) had low BMI (underweight). Regression analysis found that overweight was significantly associated with an increased adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of dental anxiety (AOR = 3.018) and uncooperative dental behavior (AOR = 8.714) with p < 0.001. Also, statistically significant increase in the odds ratio (OR) of the child feeling shy in the clinic (P = 0.002; OR:2.113) and parents/operators reporting child behaving scared (P = 0.004; OR:1.985 and p < 0.001; OR:3.03, respectively) when overweight compared to normal-weight. Conclusions This study highlights the impact of overweight on the emotional and behavioral dimensions of the child’s dental experience as they significantly increased the probability of dental anxiety and uncooperative behavior by three and eight times, respectively.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05813-wAnxiety childrenBehaviorBody mass indexBMIDentalOverweight |
| spellingShingle | Narmin Helal Lama Yaseen Faran Rana Abdullah Dashash Jihan Turkistani Hind Youssuf Tallab Fawziah Musaad Aldosari Somaya Ismail Alhafi Heba Jafar Sabbagh The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study BMC Oral Health Anxiety children Behavior Body mass index BMI Dental Overweight |
| title | The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | The relationship between Body Mass Index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | relationship between body mass index and dental anxiety among pediatric patients in jeddah saudi arabia a cross sectional study |
| topic | Anxiety children Behavior Body mass index BMI Dental Overweight |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05813-w |
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