Prevalence of Obesity and Dental Caries in Kindergarten Children During the First Decade of Saudi Vision 2030: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity and dental caries are significant health issues affecting children worldwide. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of obesity and dental caries among kindergarten children in Saudi Arabia during the early implementation years of the Vision 2030 initiative. Specifically, it examines the obesity rates between public and private kindergartens and assesses the correlation between obesity and caries risk.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving a stratified sample of 347 kindergarten children in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from September 2022 to March 2023, as part of a larger project assessing the obesity and dental caries prevalence in school-aged children. Their body mass index (BMI) was computed after their weight and height were measured. Following an oral examination, the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) scores were noted. The relationships between dmft and BMI, sex, and school type were studied using non-parametric tests, and its predictors were assessed as well.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that 15.3% of the children were classified as obese based on the BMI measurements, while 9.8% were categorized as overweight. The prevalence of obesity did not show significant differences by school type when classified by BMI. The mean dmft score was 2.8 ± 3.6, with those children in public kindergartens demonstrating significantly higher dmft scores compared to their private counterparts ( < 0.001). Notably, there was no observed relationship between obesity and caries activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, the high prevalence of obesity and dental caries among kindergarten children suggests that the current health initiatives may be insufficient. The lack of a relationship between obesity and caries activity highlights the complexity of these health issues and the need for targeted interventions. To improve the health outcomes, it is recommended to enhance the awareness campaigns regarding oral health and nutrition, increase access to preventive dental care, and integrate nutrition education into kindergarten curricula.