Nutritional concerns in American Indian and Alaskan Native children: transitions and future directions

The nutritional health of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) children has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. The prevention and treatment of malnutrition was a major health issue until the mid-to-late 1970s. Now a generation later, obesity in AI/AN children is a major health threat. In 1969, the National Institutes of Health sponsored a conference to review the nutritional status of North American Indian children. Subsequently, increased food availability; food assistance programs; and improved sanitation, transportation, and health care have eliminated under-nutrition as a major health issue. However, the substantial reduction in under-nutrition has been accompanied by a rapid increase in childhood obesity. The current epidemic of child and adult obesity and associated obesity-related morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and other chronic diseases, has implications for the immediate and long-term health of young American Indians. The purpose of this article is to review and summarize literature on the current nutritional status of AI/AN children. Nutrition changes over time are discussed and future directions to improve the health of AI/AN children are presented.