Obesity and Native Americans, Essay Example

Introduction

Native Americans face numerous health risks that are attributed to their ability to control their weight. This is a challenging process that requires further evaluation in order to determine the different issues that are attributed to poor weight control within this population. It is important to identify the risk factors associated with obesity in Native Americans and how their culture and backgrounds contribute to these factors in many ways. Obesity is a serious challenge for Native Americans and requires further attention and evaluation of the specific circumstances that are in place across reservation communities.

Analysis

Native Americans have adopted many of the values of Western culture, which have largely attributed to increased obesity rates (McCoy, 2012). These factors demonstrate political actions taken by the United States federal government to minimize the importance of this culture and instead, assimilate these communities to a Western culture (McCoy, 2012). This also contributes to a higher tendency to adopt high-carbohydrate diets within these communities, which contributes to poor dietary outcomes for many Native Americans (McCoy, 2012). Furthermore, Native Americans possess limited access to culturally relevant foods that are healthier in nature and appropriate for this population (Jernigan et.al, 2012). Therefore, as Native Americans are increasingly exposed to Western diets, their weight continues to rise, thereby contributing to higher rates of obesity and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease for this population group (Jernigan et.al, 2012).

Native American infants and children also face a significant risk of obesity as a result of an increased level of maternal weight, an increased use of processed and store-bought foods, and higher levels of stress that may be attributed to identity barriers and other related concerns (Schell & Gallo, 2012). These concerns must be taken seriously within the Native American population and represent a means of addressing significant challenges that must be overcome in order to improve the health and wellbeing of these infants and children before it is too late (Schell & Gallo, 2012). Members of this population must be provided with adequate education regarding nutrition and exercise, as well as consistent access to healthcare services in order to overcome the obesity epidemic within these communities (Schell & Gallo, 2012). As these children grow into adulthood, they may face a much greater challenge with respect to cardiovascular risk and long-term health outcomes for this group over time (Jernigan et.al, 2010). Cardiovascular disease and related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension have significant impacts on health, and this is similar in the Native American population (Jernigan et.al, 2010). Without a change in culture and practice, these problems will continue to persist and pose serious health risks  for this population (Jernigan et.al, 2010).

Conclusion

It is imperative to establish a greater understanding of the issues that Native Americans face in regards to obesity and poor diet. These factors have been detrimental to this population in recent decades to the Westernization of these communities and a lack of cultural identity. Therefore, additional issues must be considered that will have a favorable impact on Native Americans and that will support their improved understanding of dietary habits and exercise in order to alleviate obesity within this population on a gradual basis. These concerns will also support a greater understanding of the challenges of this culture and how to best overcome these obstacles in a favorable manner that will have positive influence on the practices of Native Americans Across all age groups.

References

Jernigan, V. B. B., Salvatore, A. L., Styne, D. M., & Winkleby, M. (2012). Addressing food insecurity in a Native American reservation using community-based participatory research. Health education research, 27(4), 645-655.

Jernigan, V. B. B., Duran, B., Ahn, D., & Winkleby, M. (2010). Changing patterns in health behaviors and risk factors related to cardiovascular disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives. American journal of public health,100(4), 677.

McCoy, M. (2014). The Rise of Obesity and Diabetes with the Adoption of A Western Diet: A Case Study of Native American Communities.

Schell, L. M., & Gallo, M. V. (2012). Overweight and obesity among North American Indian infants, children, and youth. American Journal of Human Biology, 24(3), 302-313.