American Indian Physicians to Host Conference to Curb Obesity

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

Obesity Epidemic

SAN DIEGO - The Association of American Indian Physicians will host a two day conference March 13 and 14 in San Diego focused on developing sustainable obesity prevention programs.

“There are changes we can make in Indian Country to prevent the chronic diseases and mortality rates associated with obesity, ”

said Healthy, Active Native Communities Director Noelle Kleszynski.

"Fostering Sustainable Strategies to Create Healthy, Active Native Communities Conference," will offer tribal leaders, health professionals and health researchers an opportunity to share best practices on creating the systemic, environmental, and policy changes needed to not only combat obesity, but also promote physical fitness and healthier eating in Indian Country.

With a "Communities Putting Prevention to Work" grant from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, the Association of American Indian Physicians created the Healthy, Active Native Communities program to help tribal communities and partners develop sustainable obesity prevention programs.

"Obesity is an epidemic that is plaguing Indian communities. We see it nationwide, but it is especially problematic with our country's first citizens,"

said Healthy, Active Native Communities Director Noelle Kleszynski.

"To address this deadly issue head-on, we want to share ideas and provide models of successful programs that can be taken home and replicated in other tribal communities."

According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity rates in America have tripled in the past 30 years; one in every three children in the United States is obese and Native American citizens are 1.6 times as likely to be obese than other racial and ethnic groups. A separate national study of obesity rates for low-income, pre-school aged children showed Native youth children had the highest obesity rate at 20 percent.

Additionally, American Indian and Alaska Native children were the only minority group with increasing obesity rates.

Kleszynski said things like building environments conducive to physical activity, employing tribal personnel to teach improved family nutrition, increasing access to nutritious foods, and developing local crops via community gardens that are sustainable and healthy are the types of models and best practices that will be shared during the conference.

Over the past year, the Healthy, Active Native Communities program has assisted 12 tribal community partners in developing plans and policies that increase access and usage of healthy foods and promote physical activity.

"Now we can share some winning ideas. We have seen first-hand that real change is possible when dedicated champions and communities tackle an issue like this,"

said Kleszynski.

"An informed community with leaders that are willing to change or improve policies and ensure access to healthier foods and physical activity where we live, work and play will result in healthier communities and raise healthier kids."

For more information or to register to attend, visit www.aaip.org

posted February 8, 2012 11:00 am est