Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109200

Bettina M. Beech, DrPH, MPH, Psychology, University of Memphis, Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38157, (901) 678-4069, b.beech@mail.psyc.memphis.edu, Waletha Wasson, DDS, School of Dentistry, University of Tennessee at Memphis, C525 DUNN DENTAL BUILDING, Memphis, TN 38163, Kristen W. Kovach, MPH, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 202 Psychology Building Room 143, Memphis, TN 38152, and Mary Read, MS, RD, Center for Community Health, University of Memphis, 5100 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38117.

Prevalence rates of childhood obesity have increased 130% in the past 35 years. Ultimate control of obesity among youth will require multiple interventions society-wide in order to provide cumulative and synergistic effects that can result in sustained health practices. One step in this approach is to encourage clinicians of all specialties to provide appropriate health promotion advice and counseling to their patients during routine office visits. Approximately 75% of youth are seen annually by dental professionals, presenting an opportunity for face-to-face nutritional counseling in the context of dental care. This seems particularly promising in light of the role of sweetened beverage and sugary snack consumption in both dental caries and weight gain. However, adequate provision of dietary counseling by dentists largely depends on the level of nutritional education received in dental school. As a consequence, the 2003-2004 dental student survey was conducted with dental students (N=295) to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceived role of dentists in addressing childhood obesity. Although an overwhelming majority of the students correctly confirmed the evidence linking sugar consumption and dental caries (97.3%), a significant percentage (35.4%) did not recognize the empirical evidence linking soda consumption and bone fractures in active girls. The majority of students (68.4%) felt that nutrition counseling is part of their professional role, but only half of the students reported that the dental curriculum adequately prepares graduates to provide nutrition counseling. Findings from this sample indicate a strong interest in addressing childhood obesity, but lack of sufficient education in dental school.

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