Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity in the Keewatin District of the Canadian Arctic.
Through a medical chart review, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes mellitus in Inuit of the Keewatin District of the Canadian Northwest Territories was determined to be 0.27%. All cases were in adults, and no cases of gestational diabetes were noted. The prevalence and pattern of obesity were determined from measurements of body mass index (BMI), skinfold thickness, and waist-hip ratio obtained during the 1990-91 Keewatin Health Assessment Study. Thirty-one percent of 414 randomly identified adults (29% of men, 37% of women) were overweight (BMI > 27). Central fat patterning was more prevalent in women and less prevalent in men from the Keewatin compared to the general Canadian population. Comparison of skinfold thickness values to published measurements obtained from earlier arctic surveys supports the hypothesis that changes in diet and activity levels associated with urbanization have resulted in increased obesity in the Inuit.
Orr
P H
PH
J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Martin
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BD
Patterson
K
K
Moffatt
M E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012885:Skinfold Thickness