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Pacific Islanders in Utah showing unhealthy traits

12/22/11

A recent report released by the Utah Department of Health shows that Utah's Tongan and Samoan communities have a much higher rate of obesity and diabetes than other citizens in the state.

A survey of 605 adult Pacific Islanders showed that their rate of obesity is nearly double the rate of other adults in Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The study revealed that 44 percent of Pacific Islanders in Utah were likely to have diabetes and only 15 percent of Pacific Islanders were at a healthy weight, the source stated. One-third of Pacific Islanders considered their weight as unhealthy or underweight, according to the study.

“Some research does suggest that Pacific Islanders can be healthy at a slightly larger size than Caucasians,” April Young Bennett, spokeswoman for the state health department's Health Disparities Reduction office, said to the source. “We still found that about half of Utah Pacific Islander adults were obese.”

According to the Tribune, the National Tongan American Society has been working with the health department in efforts to educate Pacific Islanders about the risks of being obese, which some in the community embrace as a sign of beauty.

With obesity and diabetes likely to lead to other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, which is the cause of 31 percent of deaths in the United States yearly, Pacific Islanders in Utah should look to healthier habits and life insurance as a way to prepare for the future.

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