Health Advocacy Campaign



Health Advocacy Campaign

Introduction

The Native Indians have shown a high prevalence of obesity, spread over all ages and both sexes. Diabetes mellitus, which is one of the major adverse effect related with obesity, found to be in high prevalence, in these communities. Obesity and associated diabetes mellitus, in American Indians, have only affected the population in the past one to two generations. The relatively profusion of high-fat foods, as well as, the rapidly changing lifestyles from active to sedentary seen in the recent years, is believed to be the culprit behind rising obesity trends. It calls for urgently developing and testing intervention studies for effective strategies of weight reduction, in Native American communities. The prior failed rates of treatment programs focusing adult obesity in the general population points towards having preventive approaches and health advocacy campaigns aimed at children. Since, practices of eating healthy and physical activities are likely to be carried into adult life; programs focusing on young people may prove to be helpful in reducing the high prevailing obesity and diabetes mellitus trends. Furthermore, these programs should be developed to have full participation from the Native American communities, in order to be most effective (Story, Evans, Fabsitz, Clay et al, 1999, pp. 747-754).

Discussion

Population Health Issues of the Native Americans/American Indians

The Native Americans comprises of a wide array of the group of people. In the United States, there are approximately 542 federally recognized tribes of American Indians, each with their own tradition and cultural heritage. According to the 1990 US Census, almost 1.9 million individuals were recognized to be American Indians, are numbers rising until now. Out of the population, almost one-third American Indians reside on the historic trust lands while approximately 50 percent living in urban areas. The median age in the population is 26 years as compared to 33 years for the general population of US (Stick & Tuttle, 2012).

Most indicators demonstrate the overall health status of American Indians to be, and continues to be, poorer in comparison to the general population. Furthermore, as of the entire US population, the leading cause of death in American Indians has also changed over the last few decades. The early high rates of mortality due to infectious disease have substantially decreased. On the contrary, the mortality rates have been seen to increase drastically due to behavioral or lifestyle factors, as well as, chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, or cancers. In particular, diabetes mellitus is strongly related with high prevalence of obesity in American Indians (Stick & Tuttle, 2012).

Obesity is seen in high prevalence all over US, among all population groups, particularly in younger people. As rates of obesity are higher in American Indians, they are likely to be affected disproportionately as adults due to obesity-related morbidity. Hence, there is a critical requirement for prevention programs of obesity focusing on the American Indian children (Stick & Tuttle, 2012). Advocacy Programs Researched & their Effective Attributes

Over the years, there has been significant research ...