According to the American Diabetes Association’s May 10, 2011 edition of DiabetesPro SmartBrief, “A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that 35% of the Inuit people in northern Canada were obese while 12.2% of those aged 50 and older had diabetes, a rate slightly lower but similar to the general population. Changes in diet and lifestyle among the Inuit people may have contributed to the increased rates of obesity and diabetes in the group, the lead researcher said.”
According to an article on Reuters, westernization and rapid changes in the Arctic are partially to blame. “Melting polar ice has made it more difficult for Inuit to hunt for food over long distances. At the same time, they are increasingly settling in permanent communities and taking less-active, paying jobs … The move from a hunting-based lifestyle has caused many Inuit to switch from a traditional diet heavy on fish or caribou to store-bought food, rich in fats and sugars, and to increased alcohol consumption.”
Source: Canadian Inuit not immune to obesity risks – study. Rod Nickel, Reuters, May 9, 2011.
