Native Americans and DPP!

One of the links in my anthropology classes I found on the class website is an American Indian Health link!  ::nerd out:: Health, Native Americans, what a perfect website for me! ^_^

I started to explore the website and I stumbled upon an article from Health for Native Life about DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program) on a reservation in the southwest. 

The article talks about teaching the community on the reservation a 'lifestyle change' about the way they eat, portion control, and how to lower the chance of getting diabetes.  It would seem like common sense to the rest of us, but it should be known fact that Native American communities have higher rates of diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease, you name it.  Clearly there is something going on there that's different from the rest of the American population.  No doubt the stressful past history and learning how to deal with it has something to do with the bad eating habits and lack of exercise.  Comfort food.. is well, comfort.

Regardless of this information, this article proves that it's not impossible to teach an old dog a new trick!  The DPP taught the participants how food and diabetes are related, how much fat is actually in those to-go comfort foods, and how they can slowly change this.  It's not like the Native American members were not unwilling!  They just didn't know!  How can you change something if you don't even have the resources to do so? 

Swapping chips for fruit and boiling things in water vs. lard, it's no wonder the members of the DPP began to lose weight quickly and it spreads throughout the family.  But losing weight and being healthy isn't the part of this article that made me smile, it was the part that said members felt they had control and a new feeling of discipline.  How's that for sovereignty eh?  Feeling empowered and in control can definitely  improve the morale of the community and I think this program is really really important to have on all reservations!

It makes me wonder:  Are these programs available widespread through all reservations countrywide?  How effective was this program with the entire community and not just these certain participants?

Hmm... oh so many questions that make me wanna do.. MORE RESEARCH :D

Anyways, back to the grind! 

Toodles!