The aim is to identify differences in the stomatognathic system, mastication and deglutition functions between obese and normal weight subjects.

The aim of this study was to identify differences in the stomatognathic system between obese and normal weight subjects. The habitual chewing of a French bread and deglutition of solids and liquid was evaluated five times in obese subjects and controls. The tonus of the lips, tongue, cheeks, masseter and temporal muscles were evaluated by clinical observation and palpation and defined as either normal or reduced. Twenty obese patients (body mass index (BMI) > 30kg/m2) and twenty volunteers of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 Kg/m2) were evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy adults male and female
• healthy dentate
• body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 Kg/m2 for the obesity group and (BMI) lower than 25/m2 for the normal weight group.

Exclusion Criteria:

• face deformity
• alterations in morphology of lips and tongue
• without teeth or with lack of one tooth (excluding third molars)
• Malocclusion Angle's Class II and III
• pain during chewing
• pathology of the temporomandibular joint
• neurological pathology

twenty obese patients (6 Male /14 Female, mean age 32.2 ± 9.9, mean BMI 43,3 ± 9.6 Kg/m2) and twenty lean volunteer (4 Male / 16 Female mean age 30.7 ±6.7, mean BMI 22.3 ± 1.9 Kg/m2)