The Pacific Islands have become known for obesity and diabetes rates. While more than half of all Pacific Islanders are obese, one in four lives with diabetes. Complications are evident as you walk the streets of Tonga; there are many people in wheelchairs because of amputations.
It is heard among the Tongans, "I will grow up to have diabetes, have an amputation, and die from its complications."
This does not need to be so.
LDS Charities is launching a 12-week pilot program aimed at controlling diabetes through awareness, healthy eating, and exercise. After Elder and Sister Bills, Area Welfare Specialists in New Zealand, presented the new program with the leadership of the Harbour and Ha'akame Stakes, we did health screening on any participant who wanted it done. Most participated.
We measured height, weight, girth, blood sugar, and blood pressure. In the pilot, weight, blood sugar and blood pressure will be measured at weeks 1, 6, and 11 to measure improvement.
Some people had never been tested before. Some had high numbers and vowed to do something about it. Awareness will hopefully move people toward lifestyle changes.
Below: Sister Busby measured height, Sister Heiner girth, Brother Heiner weight, Elder Coombs blood sugar, Sister Thomson blood pressure.
Some people had never been tested before. Some had high numbers and vowed to do something about it. Awareness will hopefully move people toward lifestyle changes.
Below: Sister Busby measured height, Sister Heiner girth, Brother Heiner weight, Elder Coombs blood sugar, Sister Thomson blood pressure.
Why is diabetes such a problem there? Is it culture? Exercise? Something else?
ReplyDeleteFood portions, lack of exercise, lots of feasts, some heredity but prior to WWII it was not a problem so we are thinking it has to due with diet change with the western food brought to the islands.
ReplyDelete