M. Story et al., The epidemic of obesity in American Indian communities and the need for childhood obesity-prevention programs, AM J CLIN N, 69(4), 1999, pp. 747S-754S
American Indians of all ages and both sexes have a high prevalence of obesi
ty. The high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in American Indians shows the
adverse effects that obesity has in these communities. Obesity has become a
major health problem in American Indians only in the past 1-2 generations
and is believed to be associated with the relative abundance of high-fat fo
ods and the rapid change from active to sedentary lifestyles. Intervention
studies are urgently needed in American Indian communities to develop and t
est effective strategies for weight reduction. The poor success rate of adu
lt obesity treatment programs in the general population points to the need
to develop prevention approaches aimed toward children. Because eating and
physical activity practices are formed early in life and may be carried int
o adulthood, prevention programs that encourage increased physical activity
and healthful eating habits targeted toward young people need to be develo
ped and tested. To be most effective, interventions must be developed with
full participation of the American Indian communities. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;
69(suppl):747S-54S.