Food consumption, obesity and abnormal glycaemic control in a Canadian Inuit community
Summary Dietary and lifestyle factors may contribute to diabetes and obesity in the C anadian I nuit. We documented dietary patterns, physical activity level, obesity, blood glucose abnormalities and diabetes prevalence in a C anadian I nuit community. There were 250 I nuit residents of R epulse B a...
| Published in: | Clinical Obesity |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cob.12074 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fcob.12074 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cob.12074 |
| Summary: | Summary Dietary and lifestyle factors may contribute to diabetes and obesity in the C anadian I nuit. We documented dietary patterns, physical activity level, obesity, blood glucose abnormalities and diabetes prevalence in a C anadian I nuit community. There were 250 I nuit residents of R epulse B ay, N unavut, who had an interview about diet and physical activity, measurement of weight and height, and laboratory studies (194 subjects). Children, adolescents and younger adults (aged < 48 years) consumed significantly less country food and more processed snack foods and sweet drinks than older adults (aged ≥ 48 years). Only 88 of 250 subjects (35%) reported that they went out on the land once or more per week. Of the 85 children and adolescent subjects (aged 7–17 years), 11 (13%) were obese. Average body mass index for adults (aged ≥ 18 years) was 29 ± 6 kg m –2 , and 61 adults (37%) were obese (body mass index ≥30 kg m –2 ). In the 140 adults who had laboratory studies, 18 adults (13%) had a blood glucose abnormality, including 10 adults (7%) with impaired fasting glucose, four adults (3%) with impaired glucose tolerance and six adults (4%) with diabetes (five adults previously undiagnosed). Twelve of the 194 subjects tested (6%) had fasting insulin ≥140 pmol L –1 (mean, 196 ± 87 pmol L –1 ). In summary, there was a high prevalence of poor dietary choices, limited physical activity, obesity and type 2 diabetes in this Inuit community. Public health programmes are needed to improve the dietary and health status of this community. |
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