The present narrative review article is based on current literature, published in English, on the association between overweight and obesity and periodontitis.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population is on the rise and its potential association with the development of periodontitis raises concern. Moreover, it is crucial that dentists remain critical towards the potential impact of overweight and obesity on the development, deterioration and treatment of periodontitis.

In practice and in the literature, different measures of overweight and obesity are used, such as the body mass index or waist circumference which can make study comparisons laborious. This literature review of epidemiological cross-sectional and longitudinal studies highlights possible biological mechanisms of inflammation, as part of the causal pathway between overweight/obesity and periodontitis.

In conclusion, this review suggests that overweight, obesity, weight gain and increased waist circumference may be risk factors for development or worsening of periodontal disease. Fat accumulation may therefore play a role in the development of periodontitis in adults.