Exploring BMI and DMFT Indexes of Male Islamic Boarding School Students in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent health reflects both nutritional and oral conditions, which share dietary and behavioral risk factors. In Muslim societies, Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) shape adolescent lifestyles through communal meals, structured routines, and religious values of cleanliness. Their students, called santri, represent a unique adolescent population. This study examined the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and dental caries experience, measured by the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, among male santri in Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 85 male santri at an Islamic boarding school in Bogor, Indonesia. BMI was classified according to CDC-2000 growth charts. Dental caries experience was assessed using the WHO DMFT index. Descriptive statistics summarized BMI and DMFT distributions. Associations were evaluated using the chi-squared or Fisher's exact test.

Results: Most participants had normal BMI (65.9%), while 18.8% were overweight, and 10.6% were obese. Regarding oral health, 55.3% had very low DMFT scores, and 10.6% had high or very high caries experience. No significant association was observed between BMI and DMFT categories (P=0.276).

Conclusion: Although no significant association was identified, the coexistence of obesity and high caries in a subset of santri indicates a dual public health concern. These findings warrant further investigation and highlight the need for preventive strategies addressing both nutrition and oral health in Islamic boarding school settings.