Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Obesity, and Dental Caries among School Children in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The prevalence of obesity among school-aged children has been increasing annually, and excessive sugar consumption is linked to a higher incidence of dental caries in this population. This study aims to analyze the relationship between Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) consumption and the obesity as well as dental caries among school children in Indonesia. Methods: This research is a quantitative observational study using a cross-sectional design. The study sample consisted of 121 elementary school children aged 9-12 years, selected through proportional random sampling. Data were collected included respondent characteristics, SSB consumption was assessed by a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), dental caries by the DMF-T/def-t index, and nutritional status based on BMI-for-age. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between gender and nutritional status (P=0.003; OR=3.2), while SSB consumption was not associated with obesity. However, there was a relationship between the contribution of energy intake from SSB and the incidence of dental caries based on the def-t index (P=0.035; OR=2.2). Age was also found to be associated with dental caries in primary teeth (P=0.007, OR=0.4). A total of 41.3% of respondents indicated obese was another important finding. Conclusion: According the result of study, there is a need to reduce or limit SSB intake among school-aged children. Further studies and preventive strategies are needed to address the high prevalence of childhood obesity.