Children generally healthy, but overweight or obese

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The National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO) has learned that one-half of all First Nations children on reserve are overweight or obese. The statistic is reported in the organization's First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS).

The RHS was conducted in 238 First Nations communities between August 2002 and November 2003. The study focused on three age groups: children ages zero to 11 years (with a parent or guardian responding), adolescents ages 12 to 17 years, and adults ages 18 and over. The RHS included 10,962 adults, 4,983 adolescents, and 6,657 children.

The recently released information from the study comes from the children-focused portion of the survey. Results from the other two parts of the survey will be released by the end of the year.

A summary of the preliminary results of the RHS Children Survey indicates that:

More than half (55.2 per cent) of First Nations children on reserve are either overweight (22.3 per cent) or obese (36.2 per cent). First Nations children between the ages of three to five are more likely to be obese at 48.7 per cent.

? First Nations children were 70 per cent more likely than Canadian children to report one or more injuries in the previous year (17.2 per cent versus 10.2 per cent). The most common causes were falls/trips (7.6 per cent), bicycle and bicycle/motor-vehicle accidents (3.9 per cent) and sports injuries (2.1 per cent).

? Chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effects are more common among boys.

? Nearly one in three (31.2 per cent) of nine to 11-year-olds understood one or more First Nations languages 'fluently' or 'relatively well,' with 83.2 per cent of First Nations children considering traditional cultural events to be 'somewhat important' or 'very important'.

? Over two-thirds of First Nations children are reported in 'very good' or 'excellent' health. The following factors are associated with those better ratings: living with parent(s), always or almost always eating a nutritious and balanced diet, having a mother with a university degree, and living in a non-crowded home.

"The results from the RHS will support First Nations communities in their planning and addressing health care needs, and the creation of preventative programs for First Nations children," said Jane Gray, RHS national co-ordinator.

The RHS is the only national research project under complete First Nations control, said Gray.

"We need to use this data to plan for a better future for our children."

The RHS was initiated because statistics that were gathered on Aboriginal people were done so by the Canadian government with little, if any, input or communication with Aboriginal people.

The purpose of the study is to facilitate community-based information gathering about the health, concerns and issues affecting First Nations across Canada. The research is intended to assist First Nations in learning more about the health and well being of their communities, take control of management of health information, and assist in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and practices.

About 10 years ago, Statistics Canada stopped including Aboriginal people in longitudinal health studies, Gray said. The first RHS was completed in 1997.

The people who work on the RHS call themselves data warriors.

"We are the number crunchers," said Gray. "It is up to the community to do something with these numbers."