Health of Indigenous Circumpolar Populations

Abstract

Indigenous circumpolar populations have experienced profound transitions in lifeways over the past half-century as a result of economic development. Although there have been positive aspects of this social transformation, most circumpolar groups today have a triple burden of disease, with a modestly elevated infectious disease level, an elevated and increasing burden of chronic conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, and high rates of mental health-related challenges. The health of contemporary circumpolar populations is not easily characterized because of dramatic regional differences that stem from socioeconomic disparities among nonindigenous groups, individual population histories, lifestyle factors, environmental pollution, and underlying biological variation. Overall health and well-being range from excellent among the Sami of Sweden and Norway to extremely poor among marginalized native populations in northern Russia. Circumpolar groups today are not only threatened by continued regional economic development and pollution, but also uniquely vulnerable to global climate change.

Do physical activity and sedentary behavior relate to cardio‐metabolic risk factor clustering in indigenous Siberian adults?

“…Discrepancy between self-report and objective measure may be an explanation for the differences in activity levels found between this study of Yakut and other studies of indigenous circumpolar populations that report much higher levels of physical activity. Self-reports of MVPA are very high (4-9 h) (Dahl-Petersen et al, 2011, 2013Hopping et al, 2010) while an objective measurement lowers the time spent in MVPA to 1.5 h (Dahl-Petersen et al, 2013a), which is still very high. It appears as though indigenous circumpolar populations are physically active, though it is likely that they are not as active as previously reported.…”

“…Clustering of two or more cardio-metabolic risk factors (Chateau-Degat et al, 2008Das et al 2012;Katulanda et al, 2012;Liu et al, 2006) is a major health concern in transitioning populations. The concern includes indigenous circumpolar populations, who appear to be buffered, being at lower than expected risk of some of the negative health consequences of transition (Chateau-Degat et al, 2008, 2011Jorgensen et al, 2003;Snodgrass, 2013). Even such buffered populations experience the lifestyle changes associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases, primarily due to changes in diet and behavior.…”

Searching for Progress on Food Security in the North American North: A Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis of the Peer-Reviewed Literature + Supplementary Appendix (See Article Tools)

“…Globally, nearly two billion people are not food-secure, and one in eight people worldwide experience chronic hunger-that is, they regularly do not have enough food to conduct an active life (FAO, 2013). Though food security is often misunderstood as a problem only in the "global South," a striking number of people in North America and particularly the North are also dealing with food insecurity, hunger, and multiple diet-related health problems (Snodgrass, 2013). A recent report shows that one in seven people in America relies on food assistance (Weinfeld et al, 2014).…”

Lifestyle mediates seasonal changes in metabolic health among the yakut (sakha) of northeastern siberia

“…Today, obesity rates are at moderate to high levels among nearly all indigenous subarctic and arctic groups (Châteu-Degat et al, 2011;Jørgensen, 2010;Jørgensen and Young, 2008;Snodgrass, 2013;Snodgrass et al, 2006b;Young, 2012). Today, obesity rates are at moderate to high levels among nearly all indigenous subarctic and arctic groups (Châteu-Degat et al, 2011;Jørgensen, 2010;Jørgensen and Young, 2008;Snodgrass, 2013;Snodgrass et al, 2006b;Young, 2012).…”

“…Historically, investigations have reported low average blood glucose and relatively favorable lipid levels among indigenous high-latitude populations (Bang et al, 1971;Bang and Dyerberg, 1980;Young et al, 1993). This unique metabolic pattern may be linked to adaptive elevations in metabolic rate, traditional diets that are high in n-3 fatty acids and low in LDL cholesterol, and high physical activity levels due to subsistence participation (Himms-Hagen, 1972;Shephard and Rode, 1996;Snodgrass, 2013;Snodgrass et al, 2007). This unique metabolic pattern may be linked to adaptive elevations in metabolic rate, traditional diets that are high in n-3 fatty acids and low in LDL cholesterol, and high physical activity levels due to subsistence participation (Himms-Hagen, 1972;Shephard and Rode, 1996;Snodgrass, 2013;Snodgrass et al, 2007).…”