TY - JOUR
T1 - Bite-force difference among obese adolescents in central Taiwan
AU - Sun, Kuo Ting
AU - Chen, Shih Chueh
AU - Li, Yu Fen
AU - Chiang, Hsien Hsiung
AU - Tsai, Hung Huey
AU - Li, Chi Yuan
AU - Tu, Ming Gene
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Background/Purpose: Maximal bite force of the jaw can cause thorough food chewing and result in good digestion. Bite force is related to the health of the masticatory muscles. Muscle force is frequently affected by obesity in adolescence, however, little is known about how obesity influences the maximum bite force and the difference between genders. Methods: Five hundred and seventy-seven adolescent students (292 girls and 285 boys), aged 13-16 years, from central Taiwan were recruited for a cross-sectional study in 2009. The maximum bite force, hand strength, triceps skin-fold fat thickness, serum level of testosterone, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Dental health was evaluated based on malocclusion and dental caries. Results: Bite force in girls was highest in the obese group (32.49±19.13kg, mean±standard deviation), whereas in boys it was higher in the overweight group (41.89±19.3kg) than in the obese group (33.21±17.12kg). The prevalence of obesity was twofold higher in boys (14.39%) than in girls (7.88%). The mean serum level of testosterone increased with BMI in girls (p=0.0172), whereas it decreased with BMI in boys (p=0.0014). The relationships of serum testosterone level and bite force with BMI were similar in the two gender groups. Conclusion: The maximum bite force decreased in obese boys but increased in obese girls, which may be due to the sensitivity to testosterone being modulated by the fat level.
AB - Background/Purpose: Maximal bite force of the jaw can cause thorough food chewing and result in good digestion. Bite force is related to the health of the masticatory muscles. Muscle force is frequently affected by obesity in adolescence, however, little is known about how obesity influences the maximum bite force and the difference between genders. Methods: Five hundred and seventy-seven adolescent students (292 girls and 285 boys), aged 13-16 years, from central Taiwan were recruited for a cross-sectional study in 2009. The maximum bite force, hand strength, triceps skin-fold fat thickness, serum level of testosterone, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Dental health was evaluated based on malocclusion and dental caries. Results: Bite force in girls was highest in the obese group (32.49±19.13kg, mean±standard deviation), whereas in boys it was higher in the overweight group (41.89±19.3kg) than in the obese group (33.21±17.12kg). The prevalence of obesity was twofold higher in boys (14.39%) than in girls (7.88%). The mean serum level of testosterone increased with BMI in girls (p=0.0172), whereas it decreased with BMI in boys (p=0.0014). The relationships of serum testosterone level and bite force with BMI were similar in the two gender groups. Conclusion: The maximum bite force decreased in obese boys but increased in obese girls, which may be due to the sensitivity to testosterone being modulated by the fat level.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Bite force
KW - Body mass index
KW - Obesity
KW - Testosterone
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jfma.2015.05.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jfma.2015.05.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 26123637
AN - SCOPUS:84932136189
SN - 0929-6646
JO - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
JF - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
ER -
