Weight loss is an indicator of nutritional disorders, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and is more likely to be experienced by individuals with fewer teeth. In this study, we examined the relationship between 1-year body weight changes and variations in various oral function tests. In total, we examined 104 individuals aged 45–84 years (70 men and 34 women) who underwent health check-ups at our hospital in 2023 and 2024. Several oral function tests were performed, and changes over a 1-year period were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The rate of change in oral function was compared between individuals who lost ≥5% of their body weight in 1 year and those who did not; no significant differences in body weight and oral function were observed between 2023 and 2024, and no significant differences in the rates of change in oral function or weight loss were observed based on sex and age. The rates of change in occlusal force and masticatory function were significantly correlated with weight loss rates, while no differences were observed in terms of sex or age between those who lost ≥5% of their body weight in 1 year and those who did not; the only significant difference was in occlusal force: weight loss was correlated with occlusal force over 1 year, with individuals who lost ≥5% of their body weight exhibiting significantly lower occlusal force, a risk factor for nutritional disorders.
Igashira et al. (2026) studied this question.