Effect of weight satisfaction on adolescent facial and dental satisfaction

To investigate if facial and dental satisfaction is related to body fat percentage and body weight satisfaction.

A self-administered questionnaire was applied to adolescents from a Private School in Southern Brazil containing sociodemographic (sex and age) and self-perception variables. Adolescents were asked about their perceptions concerning dental problems. Body fat percentage was collected using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

A total of 372 adolescents were examined. Most adolescents were satisfied with their dental (81.7%) and facial appearance (87.6%), while 39% of adolescents were satisfied with their body weight. Poisson regression model showed that adolescents who expressed satisfaction with their body weight (PR = 1.12, 95%CI 1.06–1.19) and were satisfied with their dental appearance (PR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.08–1.41) exhibited a positive association with facial satisfaction. Adolescents dissatisfied with dental color (PR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.80–0.97), those reporting dental pain (PR = 0.88, 95%CI 0.80–0.97), and individuals with obesity (PR = 0.91, 95%CI 0.83–0.99) demonstrated a decrease in facial satisfaction. Adolescents aged 16 to 19 years (PR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15) and those satisfied with their facial appearance (PR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.01–1.43) exhibited a higher prevalence of dental satisfaction. Conversely, adolescents dissatisfied with dental color (PR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.66–0.82) and those with misaligned teeth (PR = 0.63, 95%CI 0.55–0.73) reported lower levels of dental satisfaction. Parametric g-formula analysis found that the association between body fat and facial satisfaction was mediated by body weight satisfaction (p = 0.001).

While dental satisfaction was not influenced by corporeal characteristics, facial satisfaction was influenced by dental and body weight satisfaction. Obese adolescents had low facial satisfaction.