Teeth and heavyset kids: Intervention similarities between childhood obesity and oral health interventions within Native American societies

• Main Authors: Haring, Rodney C, Skye, Warren, Jr., Battleson, Brenda L, Brings-Him-Back-Janis, Maxine, Teufel-Shone, Nicolette
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 2014
• Subjects: obesity; heavyset; oral health; dental; childhood; youth; intervention; Native American; American Indian; First Nations; Aboriginal; systematic review; Physical Health; Environment; Indigenous Populations; Indian
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol3/iss1/5; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=kicjir

A systematic literature review was conducted focusing on childhood obesity and oral health interventions which may have relevance to Native American children, their families, and their communities. Childhood obesity and oral health have become a significant problem across Indian Country. Subsequently, a number of oral health and obesity interventions are emerging developed for ethnic minority populations including Native Americans. The objective of this review was to determine best practices of various obesity and oral health interventions used with Native youth. The review found a number of prevalence related studies showing both health conditions were concerns within Native American societies (n=94). A small portion of these studies were intervention studies linking these co-occurring conditions (n=26). Findings also discovered a dearth of oral health interventions whereas the majority was obesity focused. Findings indicated that interventions focused on multi-year environmental modifications. These included culturally tailored adaptations to intervention techniques and environmental medications that promoted healthy eating in school based delivery systems. These included food preparation education, inclusion of family, and structured physical education. Other findings showed policy intervention in both oral health and obesity arena were helpful at the community level.