World Health Experts Discuss Indigenous Diabetes

World Health Experts Discuss Indigenous Diabetes

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 13:58

 

 

A director with the Institute of Aboriginal People’s Health says it’s clear to him that poverty, not genetics, is the biggest factor behind the huge swell of diabetes within Aboriginal communities.

 

Dr. Jeff Reading is attending this week’s conference on world health promotion in Vancouver.

 

He says the conference has brought together many officials who work with Indigenous populations around the world.

 

Reading says research shows many of the Indigenous groups share similar health problems, such as diabetes and obesity.

 

The researchers in attendance include scientists from Finland who are studying that country’s northern Indigenous population.

 

Those Finns are Caucasian in appearance and live a traditional lifestyle herding reindeer.

 

Reading says they also are experiencing a large rise in diabetes.

 

He notes researchers at the conference believe sports promotion within isolated communities could be one way of helping reduce both diabetes and obesity at the ground level.