Abstract
ObjectivesTo explore factors associated with obesity among American Indians.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of American Indian adults (N=459) was conducted at 13 rural reservation sites in California. Participants responded to a survey about their health and wellness perceptions. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to assess obesity. A predictive model for BMI was built using a generalized regression model.ResultsHaving high blood pressure and having a history of verbal abuse in childhood were significant predictors of higher BMI. Participants with high blood pressure were likely to have 3.2 units of BMI higher on average than those who do not have high blood pressure (p-value <0.0001). Similarly, those with a history of childhood verbal abuse were likely to have 1.9 units higher BMI on average compared to those with no such history. Having a history of diabetes or sexual abuse in childhood trend towards increased BMI, although not statistically significant.ConclusionIdentifying childhood trauma and its impact on adult obesity rates among American Indians provides new avenues for intervention. Efforts to reduce over weight and obesity should include culturally sensitive interventions to ameliorate and repair what is lost through personal violations of stigma, abuse or neglect.
Highlights
Obesity is a significant problem in the United States; 35.7% of adults in the country meet the criteria for obesity [1]
Efforts to reduce over weight and obesity should include culturally sensitive interventions to ameliorate and repair what is lost through personal violations of stigma, abuse or neglect
American Indians have been living with an obesity epidemic for the last three generations such that prevalence rates within certain tribal groups far exceed that of the general population [6,7]
Summary
Obesity is a significant problem in the United States; 35.7% of adults in the country meet the criteria for obesity [1]. Research has focused on the effects of cultural transitions from traditional ways of life to modern day lifestyles [11] and has led to insights about disparities among American Indians as identified through historical traumas, geographical isolation, and lack of resources. These factors characterize some of the socioeconomic stressors and scarcity for many American Indians living on tribal lands despite the relative wealth of the general population [9]
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