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Practical Approaches

Background. Being overweight and being obese are systemic and oral health risks, as well as global health problems. The authors present weight-screening strategies for adults that are simple, reliable, valid and realistic to use in the dental practice.

Conclusions. Conducting routine weight screening in dental practices is supported by the multifaceted relationship among body weight, oral health and the "globesity" epidemic. Weight screenings may help reduce malnutrition and oral, chronic and systemic disease risks through early detection and referral to registered dietitians and physicians.

Clinical Implications. Oral health care professionals can measure patients’ height and weight and calculate their body mass index and percent weight change in dental offices to detect patients with nonnormal body weight.

Key Words: Risk assessment; obesity; weight loss; oral health; dental offices

Abbreviations: BMI: Body mass index • IR: Insulin resistance • OHCP: Oral health care professional • PWC: Percent weight change • RD: Registered dietitian • TNF-: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha • UWC: Unintentional weight change