Obesity and insulin-dependent diabetes are common health problems prevalent in the Pima Indians residing in the United States. Lifestyle and dietary habits are two major contributors to these problems, and physical activity is the main factor which is responsible for their health condition. The tribes are residing both, in Mexico and Arizona, have been accustomed to traditional farming and a lifestyle which has been rife with work, especially that on the farms and fields. There is a stark difference in the obesity rates of the Pima Indians in the U.S and Mexico because their Mexican population does not have obesity and diabetes. However their population residing in Arizona, U.S, has one of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the country (ICMN). This is due to the removal of the traditional farming methods from their lives as the U.S. Their water supplies were cut off once the American settlers began occupying upstream areas. This took away their one main method of exercise and physical activity, which was farming. Moreover, the U.S government also subsidized their food, and most of it contained large amounts of white sugar and white flour which happen to be rich in carbohydrates (ICMN). From then on, the rate of obesity and diabetes has soared in the American Pima Indians and comparing their lifestyle with Mexican Pima Indians; they are largely behind in physical activity. There are no genetic traits which link a hereditary factor between the two residing in these different areas. According to Dr. Eric Ravussin, there are no genetic links between their condition, but it is primarily diet and a sedentary lifestyle that are to blame (ICMN). Moreover, the Pima Indians have accustomed to storing fat and nutrition in their bodies efficiently because of their lives in the desert. Hence, their lifestyle is to account for higher obesity and diabetes in the United States.
Works Cited
ICMN. “Mexico vs. Arizona Pima Indians.” News. Indian Country Media Network, 2 Dec.
2010. Web. 2 Feb. 2017.
