September 2018

Objective: to explore whether consumption of fruits attenuates the relationship between tooth loss and obesity among adult Americans. Basic research design: data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2012, a cross-sectional survey. Participants: 20,103 adults aged 18 and over who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2012, a nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized adult American. Main outcome measures: Obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 30 kg/m2). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between obesity and number of missing teeth adjusting for consumption of fruits socio-demographic factors, physical activity, diabetes and self-rated general health. Results: The prevalence of obesity was higher among adults with > 6 missing teeth and among those with fruit intakes less than once a day. Individuals with > 6 missing teeth were at higher risk of obesity with odds ratios 1.25 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.50), the relationship attenuated after adjusting for fruit consumption. Conclusions: Frequent consumption of fruits was inversely associated with each of obesity and number of missing teeth. The findings imply a mediating role of fruit consumption in the relationship between tooth loss and obesity. Key words: Adult, fruit, obesity, tooth loss