Health status and sociodemographic characteristics of the morbidly obese American Indians.

Introduction: The obesity epidemic has become a health crisis in the United States, particularly for minorities. This article reports on the health status and sociodemographic characteristics of morbidly obese American Indians living in rural areas of California.

Methods: A cross-sectional randomized household study of 457 American Indian adults was implemented at 13 rural reservation sites throughout California.

The high incidence of cigarette smoking among American indians of the Northern Plains.

Background: American Indians present with high rates of diabetes and smoking.

Methods: A randomized intervention was implemented on 4 Plains Indian reservations. Information on chronic diseases, nutrition, and exercise was presented interactively.

American Indian internet cigarette sales: another avenue for selling tobacco products.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that cigarettes can be purchased on American Indian-owned Internet sites for about one fifth of the price at grocery stores, making this a more convenient, lower-priced, and appealing method of purchasing cigarettes. Researchers and educators are challenged to address this new marketing ploy and to discover ways to curb rising smoking rates in American Indian communities.

Participant experiences of Talking Circles on type 2 diabetes in two Northern Plains American Indian Tribes.

The Talking Circle, a culturally appropriate, 12-week educational intervention, was employed on two Northern Plains American Indian reservations to provide information on type 2 diabetes. In a phenomenological study, funded as a minority supplement to the Talking Circle intervention, the authors asked 8 American Indian participants of the Talking Circle to describe their experience of being an American Indian Talking Circle participant. Seven common themes describe the phenomenon of participating in a Talking Circle diabetic intervention.

The experience of native peer facilitators in the campaign against type 2 diabetes.

Context: The use of peer facilitators in health programs has great potential. One important application is prevention and control of type 2 diabetes among American Indians.

Purpose: To explore the experience of American Indian facilitators in a culturally appropriate intervention (Talking Circles) on 2 Northern Plains reservations.

Providing Culturally Appropriate Education on Type 2 Diabetes to Rural American Indians: Emotions and Racial Consciousness.

Healthy and balanced emotions are an important aspect of well-being. Today, diabetes has a high prevalence in American Indian communities. Four Talking Circle facilitators were interviewed in a phenomenological research study to describe their experience of facilitating Talking Circles during a diabetes research intervention, Diabetes Wellness: American Indian Talking Circles.

Utilizing traditional storytelling to promote wellness in American Indian communities.

Utilizing storytelling to transmit educational messages is a traditional pedagogical method practiced by many American Indian tribes. American Indian stories are effective because they present essential ideas and values in a simple, entertaining form. Different story characters show positive and negative behaviors.