A survey of 60 rural, 62 urban Alaska women (64% Alaska Native) indicated positive dietary and lifestyle habits. Diets were characterized by boiled meats, high intakes of omega-3 fish, sea mammals and few desserts. Food insecurity reported by 39% rural and 7% of urban. Hunger was reported by 16% of Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 09:33 01 June 2016 486 J. SMITH ET AL.rural and 5% of urban women. Traditional activities were walking, harvesting fish and picking berries. One third of calories came from non-traditional sugared and fruit juice beverages. Few respondents reported chronic diseases. Nutrition and health educational interventions in Alaska Native communities should reinforce existing positive lifestyle habits, involve Elders and tribal leaders, and incorporate Native values, customs and traditions.

Objectives. To determine if age and gender subsets of Inupiaq Elders living in urban and rural locations present different characteristics of self-reported health, physical and mental functioning, functioning of daily activities, body mass index, nutrient intake and food insecurity. Study design. Quantitative, comparative survey of 100 Inupiaq Elders, 52 living in 2 north-western Alaska communities, and 48 living in Anchorage. All participants were community-dwelling, non-institutionalized individuals. Methods. Surveys were one-to-one in an oral conversational format using tested instruments. Results. For all age groups, mean fat intake was 37%. Rural groups reported higher vitality scores. The most commonly reported physical limitation was walking. Rural males of 50-59 years reported the highest level of food insecurity, calorie intake and rates of smoking but also the highest SF-12 Mental Functioning Composite Scores (MCS) and Physical Functioning Scores (PCS). Of urban males 50-59, half reported hypertension, the highest percentage of all groups, and 41% reported eating less than 2 meals per day. Urban males >60 years reported the highest number of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Females 50-59 reported the highest self-reported health status and the lowest depression scores. Older rural women >60 years reported higher SF-12 MCS and SF-12 PCS than their urban cohorts, but reported the most Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). Older urban women >60 years had the lowest mean calorie intake. Conclusions. Rural Inupiaq villages provide positive environments for aging well. Reinforcing and enhancing services to assist Native Elders in rural locations might enhance their quality of aging more so than moving them to urban communities.

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