Study on Evolution of Body Mass Index in Dental Technologists

Abstract

The working conditions in which specialists of dental technology carry out their activity are factors conducive to a series of changes that affect the body. Thus, factors like prolonged static effort, length of work, work rhythm and ratio between dynamic and static effort lead to metabolic disorders and imbalances which may cause excess weight – one of the most frequent issues society today is struggling with, and which is harmful to the quality of life. This research was conducted on 30 subjects. Initial assessment of body mass index was made for students specializing as dental technologists within “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Bucharest and then, five years later after subjects started to work, they were assessed again, taking account of the physical activity performed and diet kept. The purpose of the study was to set out how effective physical exercise is in maintaining / improving the body mass index parameters and, therefore, the quality of life. Conclusions: This study points out to positive statistical association of regular and constant exercise with maintaining normal values of body mass index. Our proposition is to implement kinetoprophylaxis programs on dental laboratory technicians for preventing prolonged static effort’s outcomes, maximizing body functionality and improving the quality of life by stimulating subjects to adopt an active physical exercise regimen, as well as preventing overweight and obesity in these subjects.

Keywords: Body mass indexkinetoprophylaxis programsdental technologistssedentary lifestylemetabolic health

Introduction

The working conditions in which specialists of dental technology carry out their activity are

factors conducive to a series of changes affecting the functional capacity of organs, body systems and

last, but not least, on the whole body (Burcea, Georgescu, Burlibașa, Ionescu & Malița, 2014). Thus,

factors like prolonged static effort, length of work, work rhythm and ratio between dynamic and static

effort lead to metabolic disorders and imbalances which may cause excess weight (Burcea, Georgescu,

Popovici, Armean, Burlibașa & Ionescu,2014). Excess weight is one of the most frequent issues society

today is struggling with and which is harmful to these individuals’ lives. Numerous studies confirm that

sedentary live (lack of physical activity, caused firstly by technology) has compromised, in the entire

world, the metabolic health of many people, hence becoming a matter of public health (Nam et al. 2016;

Honda et al. 2016; Biddle et al. 2016). Due to the profile of these persons (dental technologists) with low

motility, which is the result of both their professional activity per se, and of absence of breaks between

occupational effort, as well as frequent association of an imbalanced and maladaptive diet from a

qualitative and quantitative standpoints, there is a major need for exercise. The results of a research show

that short, frequent interruption of work was a feasible and effective approach to reduce sedentary life at

the workplace among the participant employees (Mailey, Rosenkranz, Casey & Swank, 2016). Combating

sedentary life and excess weight caused by it in dental technologists is imperative, via a well-structured

prophylaxis programme.

Methodology

Results Obtained and Discussions

The data gathered from the dental technologists sample included in the experiment was summarized

and statistically analyzed. Next, descriptions of the two samples (experimental and control) are made,

then the actual statistical tests results are outlined.

a.The experimental sample

With regard to the gender feature, there were 8 females (standing for 53,3% of the total) and 7 male

subjects (standing for 46,7% of the total). This data is shown by the frequency table (table 1 ) below.

Data analysis in terms of number of hours worked shows that 8 subjects (53,3%) worked for more

than 8 hours per day, 6 subjects (standing for 40% of the total) worked 8 hours a day and one subject

(standing for 6,7% of the total) worked less than 8 hours a day. The latter had reduced his occupational activity due to medical reasons (carpal tunnel syndrome). The data indicated is illustrated by the frequency table shown below (table 2 ).

With regard to subjects’ height, the register values were between 158 cm and 190 cm, with an average height of 171,1 cm. Next, the table showing the descriptive statistical indicators for the feature researched (table 3 ) is presented.

Data analysis with regard to the type of physical effort performed and weekly frequency, the situation was as follows: - 7 persons reported moderate physical effort with a frequency of 3 times per week, - 6 persons reported high intensity physical effort with a frequency of 3 times per week, - 2 persons reported moderated physical effort with a frequency of 2 times per week. b. The control sample With regard to the gender feature, there were 11 females (standing for 73,3% of the total) and 4 males (standing for 26,7% of the total). The frequency table (table 4 ) for the feature researched is presented below.

Data analysis with regard to the number of hours worked showed 10 of the subjects (66,7 %) worked for more than 8 hours per day, and 5 of them (standing for 33,3% of the total) worked 8 hours a day. There were no respondents who worked less than 8 hours. The frequency table (table 5 ) for the feature researched is illustrated below.

Data analysis with regard to subjects’ height revealed they were between 156 cm and 182 cm with

a mean of 165,9 cm. Next, the table showing the descriptive statistical indicators for the feature

researched (table 6 ) is presented.

Evolution of weight and body mass index (BMI)

A.Differences inside the samples

Analysis was made for every sample separately.

a.Differences between tests- experimental sample

In the initial test:

- mean in the weight feature was 63,4 kg with minimum 44 kg and maximum 80 kg and a standard

deviation of 9,7;

- mean in the body mass index feature was 21,66 with a minimum of 17,19 and maximum 26,1 and

standard deviation of 2,8.

In the final test:

- mean in the weight feature was 64,3 kg, with minimum 46 kg and maximum 78 kg and standard

deviation of de 9,4;

- mean in the body mass index feature was 21,9 with minimum 17,97 and maximum 24,82 and a standard

deviation of 2.

Next, the evolution of these results is illustrated in the descriptive statistical indicators tables (tables 7 and 8 ).

b.Difference between tests – control sample

In the initial test:

• mean for the weight feature was 59,9 kg with minimum 45 kg and maximum 77 kg and standard deviation of 11,2;

• mean for the body mass index feature was 21,63 with minimum 17,94 and maximum 25,37 and standard deviation of de 2,6. In the final test:

• mean for the weight feature was 67,4 kg with minimum 46 kg and maximum 89 kg and standard deviation of 11,9;

• mean for the body mass index feature was 24,36 with minimum 18,93 and maximum 27,94 and standard deviation of 2,6. Next, the evolution of these results is illustrated in the descriptive statistical indicators tables (tables 9 and 10 ) is illustrated.

B. Differences experimental sample– control sample

In the initial test (student years) – there was no significant difference between the experimental sample subjects and the control sample subjects with regard to subjects’ weight and body mass index; this was in fact, a prerequisite for carrying out the experiment.

In the test conducted 5 years after having started the occupational activity there were statistically significant differences in terms of subjects’ weight and body mass index (p < 0.05), this proving the experimental sample registered better progress.

The difference between means by decreasing the initial mean values from the final mean values has been calculated for each sample separately. Hence, the difference between means in the experimental sample was 0,9 kg and 7,5 kg in the control sample.

Mention should be made that when the experimental sample was first tested, 12 subjects had normal weight, 2 subjects were overweight and one was underweight, and in the final test all subjects had normal weight. In the control sample, 12 subjects had normal weight initially, 2 subjects were underweight and one subject was overweight, and when tested 5 years after having started to work, 9 of the subjects were overweight and 6 subjects had a normal weight.

Next, the charts for initial and final weight and body mass index evolution of the two samples are listed (figure 1 and figure 2 ).

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See Full Size >

As far as diet kept is concerned, the following were reported:

- experimental sample: most subjects reported complex diet with adequate nutrition and energy content,

as well as controlled intake;

- control sample: most subjects reported unsuitable and imbalanced diet for the energy and nutrition-

related needs, frequently associated to high intake of acidified beverages and concentrated sweets.

Conclusions

•Overweight is, in this study, caused by sedentary life and frequent consumption of high caloric density foods, rich in fats and sugars.

•In the assessment made 5 years after having started work, subjects who exercised and combined it with moderate, varied, balanced diet and adapted from a quality and quantity points of view (adapted and balanced diet from an energy, nutrition and quantity points of view) showed small body mass index variations (staying within the range of normal weight), while subjects who have not exercised and/ or consumed frequently unsuitable and imbalanced foods to their energy and nutrition needs, associated with high intake of acidified beverages and concentrated sweets showed larger variations of body mass index (most of them registering in the overweight range).

• The most adequate way to remove fatty tissue is to use it as energy sublayer to perform muscle contraction. Physical activity, in this study, was not vigorous, but the effort was maintained for a longer period, which comes to show that calorie consumption is high enough to lose the fat mass, not muscle mass, as it happens with slimming cures.

•Adopting healthy habits such as: varied, balanced, moderate diet; eating at fixed times; permanent weight check; active lifestyle from physical standpoint (regularly exercising), contributes substantially to active life extension, alleviating (improving) of physical and functional parameters. •This study points out that there is positive statistical association between regular and constant exercise and

maintain normal values of body mass index.

•The recommendation is as follows:

- to implement prophylaxis or treatment methods by exercise and to change the eating habits among

dental technologists which would lead to maintaining an optimum body weight.

- to implement a programme to promote a healthy lifestyle and weight loss in overweight persons by

carrying out sanitary education activities so as to improve knowledge about prevention and risks due to

sedentary life and imbalanced diet.

References

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