Obesity In Aboriginal Communities Summary

From the late 1800’s to 1996 more than 100,000 aboriginal children attended residential schools in Canada. At a majority of these government operated schools there were reports of emotional, physical, sexual and spiritual abuse along with punishment for cultural activities. Residential schools were implemented to liberate aboriginal people from their savage ways in order for them to survive in the modernizing society.1 To a majority of the current Canadian population, impacts of residential schooling are a part of a distant past, disassociated from today’s events, this misconception. Long lasting impacts as a result of residential schooling include minimal education leading to poverty, stigmatization by the non-aboriginal public, abuses of aboriginal rights in areas such as land and the environment and the growing loss of Indigenous cultures in younger generations. With the continuing misconception of the history and lasting impact of residential schools conflict between Indigenous people and the Canadian Government has not ceased, but increased.

Native Americans’ bodies could not handle the extra fat and sugar in their diet. This, coupled with a decrease in intense exercise, increased obesity and brought on the rise of diabetes. The sudden lack of exercise resulted in a significant weight increase in the Native American community. Indians were used to roaming the countryside. They had to follow the buffalo or move to warmer weather. Now, they were put into permanent homes and bought their food. This created an overweight, obese group of people. Studies estimated that the overall occurrence of obesity among Native Americans was 13.7 percent for men and 16.5 percent for women. These are higher than the United States’ rates of 9.1 percent and 8.2 percent, respectively. It is reported that the United States spends $93 billion a year on preventable obesity- related illnesses and diseases.

As health professionals, we must look beyond individual attributes of Indigenous Australians to gain a greater understanding and a possible explanation of why there are such high rates of ill health issues such as alcoholism, depression, abuse, shorter life expectancy and higher prevalence of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and obesity in our indigenous population. Looking at just the individual aspects and the biomedical health model, we don’t get the context of Aboriginal health. This is why we need to explore in further detail what events could have created such inequities in Aboriginal health. Other details that we should consider are the historical and cultural factors such as, ‘terra nullius’, dispossession and social

Obesity in America is real and profoundly alarming when you look at the major impact it has on our communities. Major health concerns like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure cases are at an all time high. Specifically, the disparity between low-income urban inner cities in regards to obesity as compared to more upper class wealthier communities makes you take pause. This relates to my professional goals of going back into my community as an activist and organizer of issues related to my environment, like health and education.

As health professionals, we must look beyond individual attributes of Indigenous Australians to gain a greater understanding and a possible explanation of why there are such high rates of ill health issues such as alcoholism, depression, abuse, shorter life expectancy and higher prevalence of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and obesity in our indigenous population. Looking at just the individual aspects and the biomedical health model, we don’t get the context of Aboriginal health. This is why we need to explore in further detail what events could have created such inequities in Aboriginal health. Other details that we should consider are the historical and cultural factors such as, ‘terra nullius’, dispossession and social

Native Americans have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Native Americans are 60% more likely to be obese and are over twice as likely to have diabetes than the general population. These numbers are even higher for Southwest Native Americans. But their diet is very similar to the rest of modern society. So why do Native Americans suffer these conditions at higher rates than the general population? The answer may be found in new research that is beginning to point to a genetic cause for these conditions. In a study by Peggy Halpern, Ph.D. for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she found that historically Native Americans of the

Colonization caused the disempowerment of Aboriginal peoples and limited available resource due to environmental factors and geographical isolation (Gates et al., 2016). The influence of obesity in Aboriginal children is multidimensional because it affects both the physical and mental health. Obese children are likely to have poor self image and self-esteem (Thompson, 2015) and they similarly are at risk of growing up to be obese youths and adults, therefore placing them at risk of mental and physical health conditions throughout their

Residential schools were a normal aspect of Aboriginal people’s lives in the 19th and 20th century. The purpose of a residential school was to convert Aboriginal children to Christianity and to assimilate them into Western culture. They were operated through the Canadian government and the church. Aboriginal children were forcibly taken from their parents and put into a school, full-time. They were mistreated which led to problems that still afflict the Aboriginal population of Canada today. Many Aboriginal people want the Canadian government to recognize the inhumane and heinous acts that have been done and want compensation. The imposition of residential schools has greatly impacted the Aboriginal population which resulted in many repercussions

The creation of residential schools was a gruesome act our first Prime Minister, Sir John. A Macdonald enacted to eliminate savage-like behaviors from the Indigenous peoples and teach them civilized behaviors. Residential schools did not only affect those that were forced into the institutions, but they also affected families that had children ripped from their grasp, along with generations afterwards - this caused intergenerational trauma. Residential schools had a catastrophic impact on Indigenous children, families and their culture; the effects that residential schools had on Aboriginals are still being felt today. Residential schools were school systems the government put into place for Aboriginal peoples to isolate the child

This blatant discrimination and racism in the health care system makes it unsafe and uncomfortable for First Nations people to access health services. As a consequence, opportunities for early intervention and prevention of health problems are reduced significantly (HCC, 2012). When considering these consequences in terms of pre and post-natal care, Smith (2003) argues that weak preventative and health-promoting care during these times is a significant contributor to poor health outcomes throughout an individual’s life. Research conducted by Dr. Janet Smylie, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Toronto, indicates that the rate of First Nations infant mortality on reserves is double that of the national average (as cited in Webster, 2012). This shocking statistic is demonstrative of the failing efforts of any government initiated First Nations health care programming.

Currently, there are about 75,000 Saskatchewan people living with diabetes and this number will increase by 2020 with a subsequent increase in the economic burden of diabetes in Saskatchewan (Provincial Auditor Saskatchewan 2012). Diabetes occurs in all populations however, certain populations have higher rates of incidence and prevalence of diabetes than others such as, Aboriginal populations (Harris et al. 2013). Diabetes is now a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and severe disabilities among Aboriginal people (Dyck et al. 2010) thus, it is a significant health concern among Aboriginal peoples in Canada with prevalence rates higher than in the general Canadian population with an earlier age of diabetes onset (Canadian Diabetes Association 2011). Also, off reserve Aboriginal population is 1.5 times more likely than the non-Aboriginal population to report at least one chronic condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure or arthritis (Carter 2004).

First Nations people living off reserve are reported to have poorer health in comparison to non-Aboriginal people. Food security security is most commonly understood to exists in household when everyone has access to an ample amount of safe and healthy food. On the other hand, food insecurity results when the quality and quantity of food are compromised, this is usually linked with limited financial resources. First Nations, Metis, and Inuits are more likely to encounter food insecurity than non-Aboriginal groups. It is stated that the smoking rates in the three Aboriginal groups were over two times higher than the non-ABoriginal population. There are reports of high rates of daily smoking and drinking by First Nations, Metis, and Inuits than

The analysis of the literature focused on program evaluation involving Indigenous peoples revealed several over-arching themes. First, an urgent need exists to improve the cultural responsiveness of program evaluation within Indigenous and community health settings. Second, it is essential that evaluations employ participatory methods which take into account the unique historical, political, social and cultural contexts of Indigenous peoples and communities. Integral in the above approach is meaningful engagement and the establishment of respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. Finally, culturally responsive program evaluation necessitates the adherence to both mainstream evaluation standards, as well as the guiding principles of Indigenous health research. To conclude, increasing the uptake of culturally resonant approaches to program evaluation has immense potential to assist Indigenous peoples, and allies, in developing, improving and adapting programs aimed at promoting health, wellness and

The indigenous communities are also greatly affected by diabetes like the Mexican community. Though in this community the most common type of diabetes that is affecting them and is over the roof in how many people are diagnosed with it is the form type 2 diabetes. Like Mexican communities they also suffer from obesity and are exposed greatly to diabetes because of this. Though it is thought that this obesity and diabetes that is among the Indigenous people would be because it is genetically inherited. Other factors are also “the increased consumption of snack foods, fruit-flavored-juices, sugar-sweetened cool drinks, white bread, sugar, and canned meats in some Indigenous communities” (Review). Existing the threat that in that future diabetes

Zinman (2010) goes on to explain, how many of the Aboriginals now live on the reserves and as a result: they don’t do as much physical labour as they used to (hunting, fishing), they are exposed to more fatty foods (versus their traditional hunter-gatherer diet), and there is a high rate of unemployment. Due to this drastic change of lifestyle that occurred over a short period of time, the Aboriginals are faced with a high rate of obesity (Zinman, 2010). Obesity in turn, is one aspect that has a role in the result of gestational diabetes for the