Child Obesity in Jemez Pueblo

Kaleigh T. Magdalena

Jemez Pueblo

SHARING ONE SKIN

Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.

The first Article, “ Sharing one skin” by Jeaneatte Armstrong talks about her Okanagan Community and their practices within the community. She first talks about her identity and where she's from and includes her responsibilities and what her goals are in her language. Her knowledge comes from Okanagan people. The Okanagan people speak of themselves as a whole person having four main capacities; the physical self, the emotional self, the thinking intellectual self, and the spiritual self. The physical self is one part of the whole self that depends entirely on the parts of us that exist beyond the skin. The emotional self connects to other larger parts of us around us. As Okanagans, she explains how they teach that the emotional self is an essential element of being whole, human, and Okanagan.The other capacities they engage in when they take action are driven by the spark of memory once it is sparked, in Okanagan terminology. They understand that in our traditional Okanagan educational techniques, they must be disciplined to work in tandem with other selves in order to engage ourselves beyond our automatic-response capacity. The spiritual self is the individual being and the larger part which all things are apart.

Native American Identity

Perry G. Horse. “Native American Identity,” in Native American higher education issues. NEW DIRECTIONS FOR STUDENT SERVICES,no. 109.Spring 2005. Pg 61-68

Perry G. Horse talks about her grandma saying we, as natives, will be like white people some day. He says 40 years later, she notices that we may not be white, but are beginning to be more like them. She also talks about meaning associated with words such as Native American and American Indian. We favor the speaking of their language over our own Native American languages. We adopt their religious beliefs and practices. We emulate their forms of government and schooling. Tribes have the authority to make decisions about many things without following the state laws. One of the major difficulties in Indian country is redefining what it means to be an American Indian in today's culture.

Health and Nutrition

Keoke, Emory Dean, and Kay Marie Porterfield. “Health and Nutrition.” Medicine and Health, Chelsea House, 2005. American Indian History

The article "Health and Nutrition" by Emory Dean Keoke and Kay Marie Porterfield discussed how Native Americans ate their foods (their diet). The Great Plains hunters and gatherers were in pretty good health. Meat provided the majority of the dietary protein for hunters and gatherers. Mammoths and other extinct creatures were hunted by the early Indians. Bison, deer, elk, antelope, and wild sheep were all hunted by later American Indians. Many minerals and a large portion of their vitamin C came from these sources for Native Americans who ate largely meat or fish. Corn, beans, and squash were often grown by North American and Mesoamerican farmers. Europeans began stealing territory where Indians hunted and gathered food, as well as land where they grew crops, shortly after 1492. Changes in nutrition and lifestyles have resulted in a slew of ailments among American Indians today. Heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are some of these diseases. To change this way, many health-conscious American Indians are turning back to the meals that kept their ancestors alive for decades.

Native American Health

Bubar, Roe W., and Irene S. Vernon. “Native American Health.” Social Life and Issues, Revised Edition, Facts On File, 2019. American Indian History

The article, “ Native American Health” by Roe W. Bubar; Irene S. Vernon, talked about the history, slight improvement in health care, population, leading causes of death, also diabetes in Native Americans. Native Americans were self-governing and in charge of their own health care. There were a variety of people in tribes that were concerned about their health. One of the most challenging social challenges confronting Native Americans today is health. The Native population peaked at 250,000 people in the early 1900s. The primary cause of population reduction was new diseases against which Native people had no resistance. The infections, which were already fatal, became epidemics when they were combined with very insufficient Native American health care and a limitation of access to medical care for those who got the new diseases.Native Americans' health has improved over the last half-century, yet they still face a number of serious health challenges. Native Americans' average lifespan grew by 39 percent between 1940 and 1995, from around 51 years old in 1940 to seventy-one years old in 1995. Heart disease, malignant neoplasm (cancer), accidents, diabetes, and obesity are the major causes of deaths for Native Americans.

Native American Nutrition Conference Day 2: Preventing Childhood Obesity

Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition. “Native American Nutrition Conference Day 2: Preventing Childhood Obesity.” Fourth Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition, Youtube, 17 September 2019.

In the video. “Native American Nutrition Conference Day 2: Preventing Childhood Obesity,” talks about tribes from different parts of America and their percentages in childhood obesity. Over the past decade, the rate has gone up. They talk about a program they have to prevent childhood obesity to increase physical activity, and reduce screen time. Health, wellness, and community is the foundation of the program in Oklahoma. One of their main focuses is to feed children healthy nutritious foods and get them outdoors exercising.

Why are people overweight?

“Obesity.” Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., March 2020, teenhealthandwellness.com/article/249/obesity. Accessed 10 Nov 2021.

The article, “Why are people overweight?” is about different ways people can be overweight. The major cause of this is because of people's diet. Another factor is a genetic cause. People tend to overeat for many reasons. In most cases, people have no choice but to get unhealthy foods because they are much cheaper and affordable. These factors, according to experts and government authorities, contribute to high obesity rates in particular regions. Cities are encouraging farmers' markets or new grocery stores to open in food deserts to eliminate the problem. Schools are a part of the problem as well. They give out unhealthy foods especially in public schools. Active people need more calories than inactive people. Small changes in eating habits can lead to weight problems. Lack of exercise is the second leading cause of obesity. At home, some teenagers are less active than they are at school.At least as poor are Native American children's outcomes. According to one estimate, 39% of American Indian children and adolescents are obese. Hereditary obesity is also a complicated issue, according to medical specialists. According to numerous research, children who have overweight parents are more likely to be overweight themselves.

Reconnecting for Native Health | BLOOD SUGAR RISING

WORLD Channel. 2020. “Reconnecting for Native Health | BLOOD SUGAR RISING” 4 November 2021

The youtube video reconnecting for Native health is about an interventional scientist who focuses on bettering the tribal communities and everything that causes diabetes. She talks about her grandmother, who went to a boarding school, and how the trauma that arises as a result of that has been well documented in terms of causing a variety of negative health outcomes. Growing up she did not have access to healthy foods. She grew up eating comoditee foods and everything was packaged foods. Comoditee is a program where you couldn't afford food on your own and had to sign up for the program, ‘just to get through the month.’ Comoditee foods contain so much carbohydrates that affect diabetes and half of the natives in Oklahoma are signed up for it. Most tribes and native communities have convenience stores that they depend upon, and is an unhealthy place for foods. She hopes to change and is trying to change stores to move in the right direction to prevent diabetes from happening.

Why Genes Matter

“Genetics of Obesity.” Teen Health and Wellness, Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., July 2020, teenhealthandwellness.com/article/421/genetics-of-obesity. Accessed 10 Nov 2021.

The article , “why genes matter” starts out on what obesity is and the leading causes of it. Worldwide obesity has doubled within the last two decades. Other countries like Mexico and Canada have a higher obesity rate than the United States. The number of overweight children in the United States has tripled in the last three decades. A interesting fact I learned is that if one parent is overweight or obese, a child is 33 percent more likely to be overweight or obese. If both parents are obese, the child has a 67% chance of being overweight or obese. With children, it has risen in children aged six to eleven in the last three decades. People are gaining weight because they eat more and move less than in previous years. Women also consume more calories than back in the 1900s by 300 calories more and men 200 calories more. It also talks about how people are not exercising as much as they used to because they are too obsessed with sedentary activities especially in children. Genes, which are the hereditary instructions that guide all of your body's cells how to function, are also showing a significant impact in obesity. But, You can overcome your genes and maintain a healthy weight if you make appropriate choices, such as watching what you eat and getting lots of exercise.

Health Issues in Hispanic/Latino Youth

Isasi, Carmen R, et al. “Health Issues in Hispanic/Latino Youth.” Journal of Latina/o Psychology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915390/.

“Health Issues in Hispanic/Latino Youth” article was about the impact of these diseases and its implications for adult health. Obesity, asthma, and mental health functioning are three major health challenges that Hispanic youth face. Obesity affects Hispanic youth at a young age; the prevalence of obesity among Hispanic children aged 6–11 is double that of non-Hispanic White children of the same age, but it is four times greater with children aged 2–5. Talks about the need for better statistics to acquire a better knowledge of the health status of Hispanic children and to aid in the development of preventive measures designed to address this population's concerns. Improving access to health services, especially mental health treatments, is also important.

Obesity in Mexico: Rapid Epidemiological Transition and Food Industry Intergerence in Health Policies

Barquera, Simon. “Obesity in Mexico: Rapid Epidemiological Transition and Food Industry Interference in Health Policies.” Define_me, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(20)30269-2/fulltext.

Obesity in Mexico is mainly about how Obesity has been on the rise in Mexico over the past 30 years and is the country's greatest public health concern. The Mexican diet has transformed in the last 40 years from primarily fresh and unprocessed meals to ultra-processed sugar foods, salt, and fat. Obesity was not included in the national health plan until 2010, hence the response to the pandemic has been inadequate. Attempts to implement prevention policies, on the other hand, were met with swift criticism by global food corporations. Junk foods and sugary beverages were also banned from schools.

Arkansas Fight angainst Obesity

“Arkansas Fight against Obesity.” YouTube, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/?gl=NL.

The video I watched was about the state of Arkansas and obesity. In the south, they are known for “frying everything”. Every food, even desert for example, snickers, they fry. The state took every kid's height, and weight to get their BMI. They found that 40 % of them are either obese or on the edge of being obese. The state also forced all schools to change their menu. Children were also forced to exercise in school and take a Physical Education (P.E) class.

Santa Fe New Mexican

Kaleigh Magdalena

Childhood Obesity within Native Communities

I attend Santa Fe Indian School. I am a Senior. In order to graduate from the Santa Fe Indian School, a senior in New Mexico must take and pass a course called Seniors Honors Project (SHP). Students can choose a community issue to research throughout the school year in this course. Students are given conversation logs, action plans, and research logs to assist them in gathering information for this presentation.

I always had an interest in health and want a career in the health field. The desire to make a difference in other people's lives is perhaps the most impactful motive to pursue a health vocation. Furthermore, I'd like to go into the specialty of pediatrics. Obesity in children is a severe health issue. Physical, psychological, and social issues are all caused by it. This issue has the potential to affect children for the rest of their life.

Childhood obesity is one of the leading causes of adult obesity, as well as a higher risk of obesity-related disease later in life. All this starts from a young age, how different individuals are raised into the lifestyles they have now. I want to help make a change and educate people of this problem.

I'm going to concentrate on middle school in my action plan. I intended on arranging a scavenger hunt for them around campus for their health and fitness, so they could get up and moving. However, I was unable to do so at the last minute. I was still able to join the kids on Zoom, and I had prepared a brief presentation on the causes, facts, and strategies for preventing obesity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I emailed a survey to all middle school students at the end of the presentation, asking if they are active, and if so, how many times per week, and whether they consider themselves normal weight, obese, or underweight, which will help me collect more data.

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