Alshareef, Ahmad
(2012)
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBESITY AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The American Journal of Public Health (2004) editorializes obesity as ‘the public health challenge of our time.’ Obesity creates risk for chronic health problems, is associated with increased mortality and exists in complexes of multiple, clustered behavioral risk factors. Fine (2004) identifies obesity among the four most common risk factors of chronic disease [cigarette smoking, risky drinking of alcohol, physical inactivity, overweight]. That set of risk factors applied to the 2001 National Health Interview Survey showed 17 percent (among 29,000) possessed three or more. Obesity with raised cholesterol and hypertension is the major cause of mortality and disease in Europe (James 2004) and is an issue for developing countries as well (Caballero 2001).
Adipocytes in the adipose (fatty) tissues of obese people produce quantities of active molecules like leptin, important in regulating energy expenditure (thus body weight). Adipocyte-derived active molecules (adipocytokines) are candidates for the close association between obesity and multiple risk factor syndromes.
Similarly periodontal disease is one of the world’s most common chronic diseases [possibly 35 percent of U.S. adults ages 30-40]. Increasing evidence establishes periodontal disease as a significant risk factor in the etiology of diseases with inflammatory components. [Severe periodontal disease is the well-established sixth complication of diabetes (Lőe 1993) and the relationship may be two-way (Grossi
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OBESITY AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Ahmad Alshareef D.M.D.
University of Pittsburgh, 2012
v
1998).] Obesity is a systemic disease predisposing to co-morbidities and complications that affect overall health; cross-sectional research suggests obesity is associated with periodontal diseases by underlying biologic mechanisms yet to be established. Linking evidence in the pathophysiology of both points toward inflammatory processes: The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is produced by adipocytes and the concentration of TNF-alpha is elevated in the obese, declining with weight loss. TNF-alpha suppresses insulin action via its specific receptor. Hence TNF-alpha exacerbates insulin resistance.
The purpose of this research is to determine if subjects with obesity have a higher chance of developing periodontal disease, using statistical analyses of a retrospective review of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine electronic health record [EHR].
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
9 July 2012 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
11 April 2012 |
| Approval Date: |
9 July 2012 |
| Submission Date: |
18 June 2012 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
51 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Dental Medicine > Dental Science |
| Degree: |
MDS - Master of Dental Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Obesity, Inflammation, Periodontal disease, BMI |
| Date Deposited: |
09 Jul 2012 15:48 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:58 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12460 |
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