Native American Obesity and Diabetes Prevelance

Lucy Lastovic

October 28, 2014

Mrs. Lawson- H Block

Essay

            Diabetes and Obesity have become a major epidemic in current day society, especially in the Native American and Alaskan Native communities. Why are these diseases such major problems for the Native American and Alaskan Native communities in comparison to other ethnicities and or races? NIDDM, or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, has a genetic marker with rates highest in full-blooded Native Americans. In this paper, I will explain the prevalence of obesity and diabetes in Native American and Alaskan Natives, and also the genetic component that makes them a higher risk for developing these diseases.

            Through many studies, obesity and diabetes rates in Native American and Alaskan Native adults, children, and adolescents are higher than the respective US rates for all races combined. In adults, the prevalence of obesity in these communities is in 85^th percentile or higher, 34% of which are men, and 40% are women. In youth, obesity rates reported in 1990 and 1991 consisted of more than 9000 children, ages 5-18, living on or near American Indian reservations. Since then, it is safe to say that these numbers have more than doubled in today’s current society. Diabetes cases in youth from ages 15-19 soared 68% among the Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. Also, the American Native and Alaskan Native communities’ death rate for diabetes was 2.7 times the rate for general U.S. population. Over a 30 year period in New Mexico, diabetes death rate in American Natives increased 550% in women and 249% in men. “Some studies as well as anecdotal comments from Gila River Indian community members indicate that Native Americans and Alaskan Natives view overweight/obesity as normal and healthy.” (Dr. Peggy Halpern) This quote shows that these communities see nothing wrong with their current health issues. It’s not that personally see obesity and diabetes as an issue; it’s that they receive limited educated in regards to nutrition, a lack of physical activity, and a deficient diet. Most of these communities are also unaware of the fact that they possess a genetic component that makes them predisposed to developing diabetes and or obesity.

            The “Thrifty Gene” theory, proposed by geneticist James Neel in 1962, explains just why Native Americans and Alaskan Natives are so prone to developing diabetes and or obesity. For thousands of years, communities and population that relied on farming, hunting, and fishing for food experience a great fluctuation of alternation periods in which they endured feast and famine. For their bodies to adapt to these extreme changes in caloric needs, their bodies developed a thrifty gene that allowed them to store fat during times of plenty so that they would not starve during times of famine. While this gene was extremely helpful in times of famine, these populations have now adopted to the “typical” western lifestyle. Meaning, they endure less physical activity due to automobiles, consumption of a high-fat diet, and access to a constant supply of calories. This Thrifty Gene has begun to work against these communities, continuing to store calories in preparation for famine, causing their high susceptibility of diabetes and obesity.

             Due to the drastic change in lifestyle, as well as the Thrifty Gene component, it is clear to see how American Natives and Alaskan Natives are so highly affected by diabetes and obesity. Unfortunately, most communities lack education in proper nutrition and diabetes/obesity awareness. If they were provided with such information, it could drastically improve the health in these communities. Native Americans and Alaskan Natives can reduce their chances of developing one of these diseases, even though they are still at high risk due to their medical history, but eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise.

The Diagram above shows the process of the Thrifty Gene Theory

Data above shows the prevalance of Diabetes and Obesity in American Indians.

The Special Diabetes Program for Indians: Diabetes Prevention and Healthy Heart Initiatives 

Very popular Native American dish, Fry Bread, a deep-fried pastry full of carbs and fats

Native American children exercising in order to prevent Diabetes and Obesity.

Native American Research Sources

Center for Disease Control

            I used the source above for information concerning more factual evidence than opinion based. It gave me insight on the demographics, contributing factors to health disparities, and health statistics of diabetes and obesity in the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. This source helped me in my research by giving me a brief introduction to the topic, and also helping me focus my research on certain aspects of the topic.

American Journal of Clinic Nutrition

                This source provided copious amounts of information about why obesity and diabetes are such major problems in American Indian and Alaskan Native communities today. There was information anywhere from risk factors and methodological issues, to determinants and preventions of obesity and diabetes in American Indians. This source gave me a much deeper understanding of why diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in these communities today. It also helped me in my research by containing multiple sections of information about the subject, while still staying focused on the main topic.

Native American Views on Obesity Problem

                While this source contains all factual information, it has more of a Native American based view of the topic itself. It provides a lot of information about lack of healthcare and lack of awareness of why diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in their communities. This source helped me in my research by showing that American Indians and Alaskan Natives have great difficulty in receiving help from healthcare systems due to the fact that the lower state of health you are in, the lower quality care you receive. This source was very beneficial in showing the struggles that these communities face in getting proper healthcare and education in preventing diabetes and obesity.

Diabetes in North American Indians and Alaska Natives

            This source provided most of the information for my research paper seeing as it contained all the possible information I could need. It provided the prevalence of diabetes and obesity in American Indians and Alaskan Natives, determinants of diabetes, genetic factors, obesity factors, lifestyle changes, pathogenesis of diabetes, and lastly the mortality rate of diabetes in these communities. As one could see, this source was very beneficial to my research by introducing many topics of the pre-deposition and susceptibility of diabetes and obesity in American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

Obesity and Diabetes: The Thrifty Gene

            This source is predominantly about the Thrifty Gene, which is the gene that explains why American Indians and Alaskan Natives are at extreme risk of developing diabetes and/or obesity. This source was very important in my research because it is the foundation of why American Indians and Alaskan Natives are at such high risk of developing diabetes and/or obesity.

Overweight and Obesity Among American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth

            Even though this source is focused on how obesity and diabetes affect American Indian and Alaskan Native Youth, it shows that the youth are already developing these diseases at very young ages. If these communities can prevent the development of diabetes and/or obesity in the youth, it will decrease the chances of them developing these diseases in their adulthood. This source also provides helpful tips on how we as a country can help prevent the development of diabetes and obesity in the youth, but also how we can provide education to those who may not know that them, or those around them, are at risk for these diseases. This source helped me in my research by providing an insight of how the need of education and preventive programs of diabetes and obesity are desperately needed in these communities.