Home About Writers Categories Recent Issues Subscribe Contact File Transfer





Pam Harjo
Pam Harjo is Director of Community Services and the HIV/AIDS Department at Hunter Health Clinic. She is a member of the Wichita Indian Mission United Methodist Church where she is a Certified Lay Speaker. She is also certified as an HIV/AIDS Educator, Counselor, and Trainer. She currently serves as a Member of The Kansas West Conference Native American Council. Pam is a member of the Kansas State Community Planning Group, and the Chickasaw Tribe of Oklahoma. She is past Board Member of The National Minority AIDS Council, The Child Care Association, The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and Leadership Wichita Alumni. Pam and her husband Jerry have four children, and two grand-children. You may contact Pam at at (316) 262-3611 ext.124.
Health & Medicine
2002-09-01 09:13:00
Obesity & illness
:  Are Native American women a higher risk for obesity than any other group? Are they a higher risk group For any other condition or illness?
Pam Harjo Question:  Are Native American women a higher risk for obesity than any other group? Are they a higher risk group For any other condition or illness?Answer:  It is well known that all of the United State's populations are getting out of shape because of low level physical activity and improper diets, At our clinic, we are seeing men, women, and children of all races and ethnic groups who are overweight. Native women don't have a comer on the obesity market- Native American populations do have high incident rates with diseases that are directly or indirectly relate to diet. The refined sugar, flow, alcohol and fried food that were introduced to the Native populations after European contact have had an effect on the health of the Native American people. These new foods coupled with the change in lifestyle and the lack of ability to care for their illnesses with natural herbs and remedies developed over thousand of years has resulted in many of the health problems now effecting the Native culture today.European culture began influencing the Native American culture approximately 12 generations ago, the Native Americans have been here for 12,000 generations. The Native American population was hit very hard because of the diseases brought over by the Europeans, and within two generations, our Native American population was reduced by 80%, that began the destruction of a very well balanced system that had served the Native American people for thousands of years. It is reported that Native Americans have higher incidence of heart disease than any other culture or race of people in the world. Native American people have higher rates of diabetes than any other culture or ethnic group in the United States, and three times the rate of liver disease. Native Americans have the lowest life expectancy of any population in this hemisphere except Haitians; the average age of death for Native Americans is 47.6 years of age. The Native American's body and digestive system has not had time to adapt to the current American way of eating. It is believed that if the Native American people could prepare and eat foods in the traditional manner, they would have a favorable outcome in redaction of some health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and obesity.
 
The Q & A Times Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thank you.
 
Wildcard SSL Certificates