Wednesday, February 17, 2010

HOW DOES OBESITY EFFECT THE LIFE SPAN OF NATIVE AMERICANS?

Obesity in Indian youth linked to death by age of 55Thursday, February 11, 2010

Indian children who are obese or have high blood sugar levels are more than twice as likely to die before the age of 55 than others, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study looked at data from 4,875 Pima or Tohono O'odham children who were born between 1945 and 1984. Researchers said Indian children with a high body-mass index (BMI) had a death rate that was more than double than those who were leaner.

Also, researchers said Indian children with highest levels of glucose intolerance were 73 percent more likely to die at a young age. "In the Arizona Pima Indians, unlike most other ethnic groups, childhood obesity has been common for decades," according to the study

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: Does obesity, over weight, high blood pressure and high cholesterol really prevalent in Native Americans? If so what can we do about this problem? What do you think?

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