title: Obesity in American-Indian children: prevalence, consequences, and prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  American Indians of all ages and both sexes have a high prevalence of obesity. The health risks associated with obesity are numerous and include Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and respiratory problems. Obesity has become a major health problem in American Indians only in the past few generations and it is believed to be associated with the relative abundance of high-fat, high-calorie foods and the rapid change from active to sedentary lifestyles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed selected literature on prevalence of obesity in American-Indian children, and health consequences of obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity is now one of the most serious public health problems facing American-Indian children, and it has grave implications for the immediate and long-term health of American-Indian youth. Unless this pattern is reversed, American-Indian populations will be burdened by an increased incidence of chronic diseases. Intervention studies are urgently needed in American-Indian communities to develop and test effective strategies for obesity prevention and treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To be effective, educational and environmental interventions must be developed with full participation of the American-Indian communities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. story@epi.umn.edu
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Story
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Himes
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Bonnie Holy
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rock
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ethelbah
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology