Tooth Decay & Obesity Have a Love Child: a Poor Diet

NSW longitudinal study examining poor diet in early childhood and obesity and tooth decay says tackling such problems demands an integrated policy approach. Australian preschool children are overweight or obese and around 40% already have tooth decay. These conditions negatively impact children, their families, and the healthcare system and often persist into adulthood.

Public Health at Western Sydney University, started the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids study in 2010 investigating infant and young children feeding patterns and their links with obesity and tooth decay in early childhood.” Said Associate Professor, Amit Arora, in collaboration with the former Sydney South West Area Health Service.

Associate Professor, Amit Arora’s Team

Examining longitudinal data from 1035 infants in Greater Western Sydney, recruited six to eight weeks after their birth, since becoming a multi-institutional collaboration.  The process of data collection, children were aged two months, then continued at four and eight months, followed by 1-2 years, 3-4 years, and then 7-9 years of age. More data will be collected when the children are 12-13 years old.

Associate Professor, Amit Arora says that “a better understanding of the diet trajectories of healthy and unhealthy foods in early life and their impact on subsequent obesity and tooth decay will help guide prevention strategies and policy changes.”

Although there is global evidence of the link between obesity and tooth decay as they share common risk factors such as diet. Global evidence that children who start solid foods before 17 weeks are at increased risk of developing obesity, allergies, and other adverse health outcomes. Very concerning as Australian Infant Feeding before 17 weeks, the guidelines recommend the introduction of such foods at around six months of age and that mothers should exclusively breastfeed their baby until then. The team observed many children started consuming them too early. Associate Professor, Amit Arora says. 12% of infants received Core foods before 17 weeks of age. Core foods such as fruits and vegetables are essential to meet an infant’s increasing nutritional and developmental needs.

Current Australian recommendations state your children’s dentistry requires hygiene as its foundation that obesity and tooth decay should be avoided in the first year of life. Yet worryingly Associate Professor, Amit Arora, and the team found when they analysed the data that a whopping 95.3% of infants were given such foods before they were one year old.

Family’s Socioeconomic Status (SES) The Team Found

A key factor. So those who were at a social disadvantage were almost four times more likely to introduce discretionary foods (e.g. foods high in sugar, fat, or salt) that are considered unhealthy and do not have a high nutritional value. Before the recommended age than those who weren’t. This is very concerning as this puts infants at risk for developing obesity and tooth decay in later years.”

“A better understanding of the diet trajectories of healthy and unhealthy foods in early life and their impact on subsequent obesity and tooth decay will help guide prevention strategies and policy changes.”  Associate Professor, Amit Arora, Western Sydney University

They explain that when they interviewed mothers about why they started solid foods early, the main responses were that breastfeeding was too difficult, mums had to return to work, and they felt their child wasn’t satisfied by breast milk alone. “Health professionals need to continue to get the message across to the community on the benefits of breastfeeding. Moreover, women at risk of stopping breastfeeding early need additional support.” Associate Professor, Amit Arora says. Mum’s education, country of birth, being a single parent, having three or more children, and low SES significantly contributed to the child’s dietary intake trajectories. Low SES had an equally profound effect on both obesity and dental decay in early childhood.

“What we need now is a collaborative approach where dental and medical professionals, the food industry, and policymakers work together with families to promote healthier age-appropriate alternatives for their children and themselves.” Associate Professor, Amit Arora, Western Sydney University

Dental marketing can change the world’s dental health. Children’s diets are influenced by what parents and siblings consume, the child’s preferences and demands, availability of food in households, and how much time parents have to prepare healthy meals and snacks. Some parents don’t realise the amount of sugar in a glass of fruit juice,” says Associate Professor, Amit Arora. And many don’t know how to read and understand nutrition labels on packaging. The team interviewed mothers to better understand their diet-related decisions for their children.

A Final Word

This article shows that unhealthy dietary patterns start early, and consumption continues to increase into early childhood, highlighting the importance of establishing healthy patterns early in life. What we need now is a collaborative approach where dental and medical professionals, the food industry, and policymakers work together with families to promote healthier age-appropriate alternatives for their children and themselves.

Education is paramount. “But rather than telling the parents what is required, we need to work with them to develop health promotion programs that best suit their needs.” Associate Professor, Amit Arora, Western Sydney University