Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2016

Document Type

Senior Honors Thesis

Degree Name

B.A.

Department

Anthropology

Degree Program

College of Arts and Sciences

Author's Keywords

Pacific Islands; non-communicable disease; Western Diet

Abstract

In an already challenging environment, the Western diet has introduced noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease to the Pacific Islands (PIC). Without modern medicine, many of these regions, including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia are ill equipped to handle the long-term effects of these noncommunicable diseases. A high percentage of the Pacific Island population is obese and overweight; and the Islands are struggling to combat the epidemic. Many programs and proposals have been implemented, such as changes in trade policy, local activism, and government modifications, but there has been no evidence of a decline in noncommunicable diseases. There is still a significant amount to be done. I argue that culturally relevant approaches in the Pacific Islands, modeled after a Native American program, could prove to be an effective solution to positive dietary changes

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