Dentists already coach families on sugar intake, healthy snacks, and routines that protect teeth. Those same behaviours—what we drink, how often we graze and how we structure mealtimes—also influence body weight and overall health. So why not make a broader connection? “That regularity of contact is powerful,” says Dr. Sarah Hampl, a professor of pediatrics at University of MissouriKansas City School of Medicine and leader in childhood obesity care. “School-age kids might see a pediatrician once a year, but if they’re following recommendations, they’ll see their dental team twice a year. That’s two more structured opportunities to talk about sugary drinks, frequent snacking and family routines.” Testing Attitudes First, Dr. Large examined current practice in the UK and beyond, as well as public and professional attitudes. Public support stood out: 83% welcomed weight screening in dental settings, and 85% supported conversations about weight and health.2 Most dental teams do not currently talk about weight and health with patients, but research suggests the majority of dental students and professionals believed dentistry has a role to play. The lesson, she says, was clear: “If it’s done sensitively, consistently, and with training, people feel okay about it.” Next, she focused directly on the public. In a UK survey of more than 3,500 adults, 60% were theoretically comfortable having their height and weight recorded at the dentist, with another 10% saying “maybe.”3 Over half (57%) said that it would be acceptable for their dental team to offer support to help with weight management, with another 15% answering “maybe” when asked if was acceptable. The preferred supports were straightforward: information about local weightmanagement services (84%), referral to a GP (81%), or referral to a local weight management service (78%). What people least preferred was a separate appointment; they preferred action during their dental visit. Interestingly, men were more likely to accept screening and support than women—counter to broader trends in health care engagement. For Dr. Jessica Large, a consultant in pediatric dentistry in Sheffield and doctoral researcher at Loughborough University in England, a research journey that linked dentistry and healthy weight began in 2018, during her pediatric dentistry training in Edinburgh. When a local healthy lifestyle service visited her clinic, she wondered why dentistry and community health programs weren’t more connected. “If these services exist, and we know dental caries and obesity are linked, why don’t we change our pathways?” she says. Her team redesigned new-patient appointments: every child or young person had their height and weight measured if they were happy to do so, BMI was calculated, and families were offered free referrals to the lifestyle service. The evaluation showed that staff and families responded very positively.1 That pilot sparked Dr. Large’s doctoral project. “Obesity and the interplay between oral health and the rest of the body became my research interest,” she says. Her PhD explores specifically how dental teams might contribute to supporting the public with weight management. School-age kids might see a pediatrician once a year, but if they’re following recommendations, they’ll see their dental team twice a year. That’s two more structured opportunities to talk about sugary drinks, frequent snacking and family routines. 15 Issue 6 | 2025 | News and Events
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