Issue 24-6, 2025

Original article

https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-6-35-41

Decreased Masticatory Activity in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: a Cross-Sectional Study

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ORCIDVasily V. Smirnov*, ORCIDSergey V. Popov, ORCIDDaria S. Khramova, Natalya V. Zueva, Inga M. Velskaya

Institute of Physiology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia


ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION. Eating quickly is associated with an increased risk of developing obesity, likely due to impaired masticatory function leading to increased appetite. However, there is currently little objective data showing changes in chewing rhythm and muscle activity in individuals with high body weight.

AIM. The aim of the study was to compare time and electromyographic parameters of mastication in adults with normal and high body mass index (BMI) during an agar chewing test.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. A cross-sectional study included 61 people with normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25.0 kg/m²) and 51 people with overweight or obese (BMI over 25.0 kg/m²). The groups were similar in gender (female was 66 % and 51 %, respectively) and age (mean age was 31.4 and 34.5 years, respectively). Chewing rhythm and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter muscle, temporalis muscle, and suprahyoid muscles were determined in the initial, middle, and final phases of the chewing test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Adults with a high BMI used 16 % fewer chewing cycles in the initial phase of mastication compared to adults with a normal weight (11.1 vs. 13.2, p = 0.029). Although no other differences in chewing rhythm were found, the dynamic of the decrease in the cycle number, duration, and frequency of chewing was more pronounced in individuals with a high BMI compared to the control group (25 % vs. 30 %, 19 % vs. 21 %, and 8 % vs. 14 %, respectively). The maximal, mean, and area amplitudes of EMG signals were 22-31 % lower for the masseter muscle, 32-37 % lower for the temporalis muscle, and 36–49 % lower for the suprahyoid muscles in comparison with normal-weight individuals.

CONCLUSION. Adults with overweight and obesity had a reduced chewing cycle number at the beginning of mastication and low EMG activity in the masticatory muscles throughout the mastication. Medical rehabilitation for patients with obesity and impaired masticatory function should include the use of therapeutic methods aimed at restoring chewing rhythm and masticatory muscle activity.


KEYWORDS: overweight, obesity, chewing test, electromyography, masseter, temporalis, suprahyoid muscles

FOR CITATION: Smirnov V.V., Popov S.V., Khramova D.S., Zueva N.V., Velskaya I.M. Decreased Masticatory Activity in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: a Cross-Sectional Study. Bulletin of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2025; 24(6):35–41. https://doi.org/10.38025/2078-1962-2025-24-6-35-41

FOR CORRESPONDENCE:

Vasily V. Smirnov, Email: smirnowich@yandex.ru,  smirnov@physiol.komisc.ru


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This is an open article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by the National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology.