Oral motor function in obesity

Background Obese individuals may have impaired oral sensory functioning and abnormal oral motor function, a consequence of fat deposition in muscles. Objective To evaluate the oral motor function in obese individuals. Material and Methods Three observational cross‐sectional studies were performed. In total, 140 participants were evaluated: (1) orofacial myofunctional evaluation (OMES) was performed in 26 obese and 26 control subjects; (2) time taken for suction of 50 ml of water through straws of 3 mm and 6 mm of diameter was measured in 30 obese and 30 control subjects; (3) the oral phase of swallowing of 5 ml moderately thick and 5 ml extremely thick boluses was analysed by videofluoroscopy in 14 obese and 14 control subjects. Obese and non‐obese control subjects had body mass index ≥40 kg/m 2 and <30 kg/m 2 , respectively. Results Obese subjects had worse oral myofunctional evaluation scores in posture/appearance (lips, jaw, cheeks, tongue and hard palate), in mobility (lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks) and in breathing, deglutition and mastication functions ( p ≤ .020). The OMES total score was 73.5 ± 5.5 in obese and 92.8 ± 3.7 in controls subjects ( p < .001). There was no difference between the groups in the time taken for 50 ml of water suction through the 3‐mm‐ or 6‐mm‐diameter straw. Videofluoroscopic evaluation of the bolus swallowed demonstrated a longer oral preparation time in obese individuals for both boluses ( p ≤ .040) and no difference in oral transit time ( p ≥ .140). Conclusion A moderate change in oral motor function was observed in obese individuals with BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 .