Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase
296893
Association between Obesity and History of Abuse among American Indians in Rural California
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Margaret Susan Stemmler, PhD, FNP, CNM
,
Department of Family Medicine, Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Karabi Sinha Nandy, PhD
,
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
This paper explores factors associated with obesity among American Indians. A cross-sectional survey of American Indian adults (N=459) was conducted at 13 rural reservation sites in California. Participants responded to a survey about their health and wellness perceptions. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to assess obesity. A predictive model for BMI was built using a generalized regression model. Having high blood pressure and having a history of verbal abuse in childhood were significant predictors of higher BMI. Participants with high blood pressure were more likely to have 3.2 units of BMI higher on average than those who do not have high blood pressure (p-value <0.0001). Similarly, those with a history of childhood verbal abuse were likely to have 1.9 units higher BMI on average compared to those with no such history. Having a history of diabetes or sexual abuse in childhood trend towards increased BMI, although not statistically significant. Identifying childhood trauma and its impact on adult obesity rates among American Indians provides new avenues for intervention. Efforts to reduce overweight and obesity should include culturally sensitive interventions to ameliorate what is lost through personal violations of stigma, abuse or neglect.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Identify factors associated with obesity among American Indians
Discuss adverse events and strategies for developing a culturally appropriate education to prevent trauma among American Indians
Keyword(s): Native Americans, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the PI of multiple federally funded grants focusing on American Indian health care needs and have been conducting research for 40 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
