Dietary Structure and Relative Health in Inuit Communities

Abstract

Nutrition is an important contributor to an individual’s health. Over the past 50 years, there has been a considerable shift in the diet of indigenous communities, from one which is highly dependent on hunted and gathered food to one that is more reliant on commercial foods. This paper examines the so-called “dietary transition” and the manner in which it has influenced health in Inuit communities. Recent research has shown an increase in consumption of fats from processed foods, which are high in trans-fatty acids, lack key micronutrients found in animals, and contribute to high LDL cholesterol. Consequently, there has been an increase in the incidence of obesity and its co-morbidities, and thus an increase in diet-related chronic disease. Additionally, issues with the dietary transition are compounded for individuals of low socioeconomic status.