Obesity in Indigenous Population of Brazil Assignment Sample

State of the World's Indigenous Peoples Health Issues

Introduction to Obesity and Overweight

The issue of obesity and overweight is one of the most common health issue observed in the indigenous population of Brazil. Although there are other factors as well such as genetic predisposition, the development of obesity in these individuals can also be attributed to other factors such as environmental and behavioral. This can also be identified due to lack of physical activity or poor nutritional status in these communities. In Brazil, the indigenous population is observed to be suffering from obesity more than the normal population. The indigenous population makes up for almost more than 20 % of the total Brazilian population (Lucena 2016, pp. 37-42). There are other underlying health issues as well such as violence, drug abuse and so one, but obesity is overpowering a major percentage of the adult as well as children population. Obesity in itself is an independent risk factor for development of major chronic illness in population such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, heart conditions and so on. The fat deposition in the body tends to subject the individual to a higher risk of development of any cardiovascular event. Apart from physical issue there are multiple socio-economic issues also related to the development of obesity in indigenous population sect of communities.

Indigenous population in Brazil are actually descendants from various African regions. They were mainly brought in as prisoners and were never looked after with that importance. There current health state still remains deprived of the basic requirements of life. They can be observed to be rehabilitated in regions that lack basic food and water supply as well. These communities have low or nil income source and also have a very little access to various healthcare facilities. With current interventions in place the government aims at prioritizing these issues and addressing to them in an apt manner. The measures are formulated to reduce the social and economic inequalities, promote the knowledge about health and health related issues and concentrating on diet and nutrition of the indigenous population (Soares 2018, pp. 542-550). These issues have been aimed to be addressed in national health surveys and campaigns. The interventions are also planned on the basis of the ethnicity and the language spoken by these individuals, so that the management can be provided by the means of connecting with the population on a more personal level. This will be helpful in providing them with the required help in a more schematic manner.

Attempts made for Obesity

In order to address to the lack of national health statistics available for the indigenous population in Brazil, the First National Survey of Indigenous People’s Health and Nutrition was conducted in the year 2008-2009. This was the first attempt made by the government to collect a reliable information regarding the health status, key indicators of health and the overall demographic data analyzed from the point of view of cultural as well as socio-economic importance (Ramires 2018, pp. 455-466). The data also helped in collecting information regarding the nutritional status of indigenous group of population distributed over various region of Brazil nationwide. This was mainly aimed at formulating effective strategies to overcome the arising difficulty, through an effective and schematic approach (Kudel 2018, pp.20-29). These health policies are to be aimed to be formulated as a permanent part of the national consideration as well to promote the health status of indigenous population in a continuous manner.

Socio-Economic and Political Considerations

One of the major challenge is the cultural diversity amongst these population of indigenous population. The total population is divided into various sects having their own ideology and the methods of dealing with the matters in their community. The variety does not ends at cultural practices only, rather it expands to the diversity in language as well. Most of these individuals have no literacy rate and are also very orthodox in thinking. With the language being the biggest barrier, it often becomes difficult for the government official to impart knowledge to them about the repercussions of poor health status. Language barrier also poses a huge threat in making progress of connecting with them at a personal level. Due to their diverse cultural practices, they tend to reside in close not circle and also have very less social interaction. They may be vast in numbers but are scattered around the country, making it difficult for the government to stratify them as per into various categories. This is also placing a hurdle in identifying for the health areas to be prioritized to formulate interventions on. The social discrimination faced by them in the society is another attributing factor, for them not having an equal access to various facilities (Miljkovic 2018, pp.3076-3088).

They continue to live in remorse condition with unhealthy eating habit and poor physical activity status, leading them to be subjected at a higher risk of obesity related disorders. The women of the culture are also found to be socially debarred and thus, face health related issues as well. These individuals also lack the constitutional rights and are thus, kept away from certain privileges that normal citizen enjoy and lavish. There is a major difference between the indigenous population and the general population in terms of geopolitical variables as well. this can also be directly associated with the regional history of Brazil’s expanding demographics as well as economic frontier, while not considering the indigenous population as an integral part of the nation (Da Silva 2019, pp. 875-883). The National Survey also revealed that the pattern of dietary intake in indigenous households is also likely to be linked with the historical distribution of the land for indigenous population.

Other major factor is the sedentary life style. These individuals being uneducated lack the skills for engaging themselves in any productive activity. They can be found to be living in their same state and refuse to change as well. Even after major initiatives from government and by conducting various engagement programs, the still lack the basic knowledge about the harmful effects of lack of physical activity in their daily routine. Alcoholism is also found in abundance in these dwellings as their normal daily routine. The National Survey also revealed that the frequency of alcohol consumers is much higher in indigenous group of population than in the non-indigenous group of population. This habit has also increased the incidences of hypertension and heart diseases in these sect of population.

Interventions for Obesity 

The interventions that have been planned in this respect tends to cover all of the critical parts that needs to be pondered upon. These can be inclusive of the following strategies

• Inclusion of obesity as an integral part of health and nutritional strategies. Earlier there was no interest shown in this region of work. Although in the recent year of 2011, NFNP program was launched that aimed at improving the food and nutritional status in the Brazilian indigenous population. This was formulated to promote healthy eating habits and monitoring the nutritional status in these communities. Healthcare services are aimed at reducing the use of processed food and promoting education intervention in these settings, imparting knowledge about the other healthy food alternative approachable by them (Machado 2016, pp. 800-808). Campaigns have been designed to be conducted on a regular basis so as to provide these individuals with the required information, keeping a close considerations on their limitation. The Health Ministry has also been successful in launching action planning strategies across indigenous communities, recognizing the issue of obesity as an important risk factor and trying to prevent the same with full enthusiasm.
• By enhancing an integrated approach to tackle with obesity. Civil participation and social control are the two main components that have been helpful in this process. To fight against obesity a comprehensive national and interdepartmental approach has been developed under national policy. This has been attained by various techniques. The approach has been to reduce the financial and barrier that restricts the accessibility of the good quality food to these communities (Brasil 2017, pp.327-333). Educational actions have been taken to provide with the important information on lifestyle modifications and introduction of healthy food alternatives. The education has also been provided to fight against the non-social habits of alcoholism, drugs and so on. Comprehensive healthcare plans have been introduced in place by the government to cover for the medical expenses incurred in maintaining a healthy life style and sustaining with the same (Kudel 2018, pp.20-28). The plan is also inclusive of the surveillance strategies to keep a track on the nutritional status in these settings. Food safety and quality of the supplied food to these localities has also being monitored constantly.
• Dietary and nutritional services have also been included as a vital aspect of health. Therefore, the strategies that are being formulated as inclusive of the promotion of dietary and nutritional values in these settings as well. This has been followed as a part of obesity prevention and treatment, in primary care services itself. The aim is to promote nutritional values in individuals and set their dietary goals as well. The intervention programs have also been imparted at primary school levels in order to impart the education about importance of the same can be attained at a very basic level (Silva 2016, pp.228-301). This has also been crafted keeping a close consideration for cultural as well as ethical values. The willingness of the participants is also being monitored through the means of these programs. This has been helpful in providing an insight about the complexity of the situation and thus, has been helpful in strategic management and planning of the interventions beforehand. Healthy diet habit tagged along with promotion of physical activity, has also been another facet of these interventions. The strategy aims at involving the individuals in playful activities from a very early age to promote liking for these activities in indigenous group of population. Healthy diet patterns and good physical activity inclusion in daily life routine from an early age can be very helpful for reducing the development of obesity in later stages of life and thus, reducing the associated complications largely.

Conclusion on Obesity and Overweight

There is a higher prevalence of obesity and obesity related issue in indigenous population of Brazil. The age group that is most affected by it includes, children as young as the age group of 12-16 years and women as well. There is lack of education in these communities which has left them in dark regarding the health implications the same can bring about. Apart from obesity there are other unhealthy cultural and social practices as well that are prevailing in these communities. These are inclusive of smoking, drug abuse, and alcoholism and the same is observed in young population as well. Up until recently there was no initiative to manage the situation in these communities. The interventions planning faces a challenge as there is a vast cultural and linguist difference, which poses a hurdle in setting up a good communication channels between the two parties involved.

National Health Survey has been very useful in providing an insight in the subject matter and has also helped in reflecting upon the primary and the secondary issues related to the issue of obesity. It has been able to help provide with a contrast compare between the functioning of the urban as well as rural settings, in respect with socio-economic as well as cultural differences. There is a dire need of policy management, setting goals and priorities in these regions to deal with the ongoing stress of the situation. Changes in the dietary habits and lifestyle modifications are required to be implemented at a larger scale. These modifications should also be promoted at national level and as an integral part of the public health policies draft. This will help in narrowing down the socio-economic, political and cultural gap that prevail in these communities.

References for Obesity and Overweight

Brasil, A.M.B., Brasil, F., Maurício, A.A. and Vilela, R.M. 2017. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation to Brazil of the Obesity-related Problems Scale. Einstein (São Paulo), 15(3), pp.327-333.

Da Silva, A.C.F., Recine, E., Johns, P., Gomes, F.D.S., Ferraz, M.D.A. and Faerstein, E. 2019. History and challenges of Brazilian social movements for the achievement of the right to adequate food. Global public health, 14(6-7), pp.875-883.

Kudel, I., Alves, J.S., de Menezes Goncalves, T., Kull, K. and Nørtoft, E. 2018. The association between body mass index and health and economic outcomes in Brazil. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 10(1), p.20-29.4

Kudel, I., Alves, J.S., de Menezes Goncalves, T., Kull, K. and Nørtoft, E. 2018. The association between body mass index and health and economic outcomes in Brazil. Diabetology & metabolic syndrome, 10(1), p.20-28.

Lucena, J.R.M., Coimbra, C.E., da Silva, C.M.P. and Welch, J.R. 2016. Prevalence of physical inactivity and associated socioeconomic indicators in indigenous Xavante communities in Central Brazil. BMC Nutrition, 2(1), p.37-42.

Machado, A.P., Lima, B.M., Laureano, M.G., Silva, P.H.B., Tardin, G.P., Reis, P.S., Santos, J.S., Jácomo Neto, D. and D'Artibale, E.F. 2016. Educational strategies for the prevention of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira, 62(8), pp.800-808.

Miljkovic, D., de Miranda, S.H., Kassouf, A.L. and Oliveira, F.C 2018. Determinants of obesity in Brazil: the effects of trade liberalization and socio-economic variables. Applied Economics, 50(28), pp.3076-3088.

Ramires, E.K.N.M., Menezes, R.C.E.D., Longo-Silva, G., Santos, T.G.D., Marinho, P.D.M. and Silveira, J.A.C.D. 2018. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome among Brazilian Adult Population: National Health Survey-2013. Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia, 110(5), pp.455-466.

Silva, C.S., da Silva Junior, C.T., Ferreira, B.S., da Silva, F.D.M., Silva, P.S. and Xavier, A.R. 2016. Prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among 2, 162 Brazilian school adolescents. Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism, 20(2), p.228-301.

Soares, L.P., Fabbro, A.L.D., Silva, A.S., Sartorelli, D.S., Franco, L.F., Kuhn, P.C., Moises, R.S., Vieira-Filho, J.P.B. and Franco, L.J. 2018. Cardiovascular risk in Xavante indigenous population. Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia, 110(6), pp.542-550.

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