Abstract

Childhood obesity is a common chronic disease in childhood, and its prevalence and socioeconomic costs have increased worldwide over the past 40 years. The World Health Organization has designated obesity as a global epidemic, emphasizing the need for its treatment and management. The impacts of childhood obesity on dentistry include a higher risk of dental caries, advanced dental development, as well as psychological changes (anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactiv ity disorder) and physical changes (increased complications, changes in drug metabolism) that should be considered when implementing preventive strategies, orthodontic treatment, behavior management and sedative procedures. Dentists should regularly check child’s body mass index and diet for every child visiting dental office. Parental obesity, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, poor dietary habits, and lack of exercise can be a risk factors for obesity in normal/overweight child. Diet counseling should be provided to high-risk children and their parents. Preventing childhood obesity is crucial, and the key point in treating childhood obesity is behavior modification therapy, which focuses on regulating daily eating habits and physical activity. Dentists should recognize the seriousness of childhood obesity and participate in the prevention and management of the obesity epidemic, thus enhancing oral and systemic health