Nutritional status, feeding behavior, and oral conditions in preschool children exposed to secondhand smoke

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated whether the nutritional status of preschoolers is influenced by secondhand smoke. Pairs of mothers-children (N = 201) were allocated in “children exposed to secondhand smoke (ESHS)” or “not exposed (N_ESHS).” Mothers answered, “The Parental Feeding Style Questionnaire (PFSQ).” The nutritional status and oral conditions were evaluated using WHO criteria. ESHS was 3.5 more likely to have a high BMI and their mothers had 10 kg more than N_ESHS. The probability of having dental caries was 2.28 and 3.68 times greater when the mother’s BMI increases and when family/mothers were smokers, independently whether they smoke in the child’s presence.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• cigarettes
• food
• oral health

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the children, parents, directors, and teachers at the public schools for participating in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

KGS and MBDG conceptualized the study. KGS and SCCJ collected the data. KGS, TSB and MBDG analyzed the data. KGS and SCCJ wrote de original draft of the paper. TSB and MBDG reviewed and edited the paper. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES, Brazil).