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Ocobock C. Human cold adaptation: An unfinished agenda v2.0. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e23937. [PMID: 37345289 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on human extreme cold climate adaptations has benefitted from a recent resurgence since Ted Steegmann laid out his Human Cold Adaptation Agenda in 2007. Human biologists have drastically expanded our knowledge in this area during the last 15 years, but we still have a great deal more work to do to fulfill the cold climate adaptation agenda. METHODS Here, I follow Steegmann's example by providing a review of cold climate adaptations and setting forth a new, expanded agenda. RESULTS I review the foundational work on cold climate adaptations including classic Bergmann, Allen, and Thomson rules as well as early work assessing metabolic differences among Indigenous cold climate populations. From there, I discuss some of the groundbreaking work currently taking place on cold climate adaptations such as brown adipose tissue (a heat generating organ), physical activity levels, metabolic rates, and behavioral/cultural mechanisms. Finally, I present a path forward for future research with a focus on some of the basic extreme cold adaptations as well as how human biologists should approach the effects of climate change on human health and well-being, particularly within a cold climate context. CONCLUSION The Arctic has felt the dramatic effects of climate change sooner and more acutely than other parts of the world, making it an ideal location for studying both cold climate adaptations and climate change resilience. Human biologists have a great deal to contribute to the conversation on not only adaptations to extreme cold, but also the ways in which climate change is being embodied by cold climate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Department of Gender Studies, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Lea AJ, Clark AG, Dahl AW, Devinsky O, Garcia AR, Golden CD, Kamau J, Kraft TS, Lim YAL, Martins DJ, Mogoi D, Pajukanta P, Perry GH, Pontzer H, Trumble BC, Urlacher SS, Venkataraman VV, Wallace IJ, Gurven M, Lieberman DE, Ayroles JF. Applying an evolutionary mismatch framework to understand disease susceptibility. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002311. [PMID: 37695771 PMCID: PMC10513379 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise worldwide. Obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes are among a long list of "lifestyle" diseases that were rare throughout human history but are now common. The evolutionary mismatch hypothesis posits that humans evolved in environments that radically differ from those we currently experience; consequently, traits that were once advantageous may now be "mismatched" and disease causing. At the genetic level, this hypothesis predicts that loci with a history of selection will exhibit "genotype by environment" (GxE) interactions, with different health effects in "ancestral" versus "modern" environments. To identify such loci, we advocate for combining genomic tools in partnership with subsistence-level groups experiencing rapid lifestyle change. In these populations, comparisons of individuals falling on opposite extremes of the "matched" to "mismatched" spectrum are uniquely possible. More broadly, the work we propose will inform our understanding of environmental and genetic risk factors for NCDs across diverse ancestries and cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J. Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Andrew G. Clark
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Andrew W. Dahl
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Angela R. Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Golden
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseph Kamau
- One Health Centre, Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Thomas S. Kraft
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Yvonne A. L. Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Dino J. Martins
- Turkana Basin Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Donald Mogoi
- Department of Medical Services and Public Health, Ministry of Health Laikipia County, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Päivi Pajukanta
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - George H. Perry
- Departments of Anthropology and Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Herman Pontzer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Benjamin C. Trumble
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Samuel S. Urlacher
- Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vivek V. Venkataraman
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ian J. Wallace
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel E. Lieberman
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Julien F. Ayroles
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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3
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Ocobock C, Soppela P, Turunen MT. No association of BMI and body adiposity with cardiometabolic biomarkers among a small sample of reindeer herders of sub-Arctic Finland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2022; 81:2024960. [PMID: 35073832 PMCID: PMC8794070 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2021.2024960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising global obesity rate is alarming due to its real health and socioeconomic consequences. Finland, like other circumpolar regions, is also experiencing a rise in obesity . Here we assess BMI, body adiposity, and measures of cardiometabolic health among a small population of reindeer herders in sub-Arctic Finland. We collected anthropometric and biomarker measures at two different time points: October 2018 (N = 20) and January 2019 (N = 21) with a total of 25 unique individuals across the data collection periods (ages 20-64). Anthropometric measures included height, weight, age, and body composition. Biomarkers included measures of cholesterol, fasting glucose, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Over 70% of this sample was classified as "overweight" and "obese" as categorised by BMI and 64% classified as "overfat" based on body fat percentage. However, there was no significant relationship between BMI and body fat percentage with any of the measured biomarkers. Although the sample size is small, the results of this study suggest there might not be a strong correlation between BMI, body adiposity, and cardiometabolic health indices within this population - a pattern that has been documented elsewhere. However, further study is needed to confirm this lack of a correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
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Wallace IJ, Lea AJ, Lim YAL, Chow SKW, Sayed IBM, Ngui R, Shaffee MTH, Ng KS, Nicholas C, Venkataraman VV, Kraft TS. Orang Asli Health and Lifeways Project (OA HeLP): a cross-sectional cohort study protocol. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e058660. [PMID: 36127083 PMCID: PMC9490611 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-communicable disease (NCD) risk is influenced by environmental factors that are highly variable worldwide, yet prior research has focused mainly on high-income countries where most people are exposed to relatively homogeneous and static environments. Understanding the scope and complexity of environmental influences on NCD risk around the globe requires more data from people living in diverse and changing environments. Our project will investigate the prevalence and environmental causes of NCDs among the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, known collectively as the Orang Asli, who are currently undergoing varying degrees of lifestyle and sociocultural changes that are predicted to increase vulnerability to NCDs, particularly metabolic disorders and musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Biospecimen sampling and screening for a suite of NCDs (eg, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis), combined with detailed ethnographic work to assess key lifestyle and sociocultural variables (eg, diet, physical activity and wealth), will take place in Orang Asli communities spanning a gradient from remote, traditional villages to acculturated, market-integrated urban areas. Analyses will first test for relationships between environmental variables, NCD risk factors and NCD occurrence to investigate how environmental changes are affecting NCD susceptibility among the Orang Asli. Second, we will examine potential molecular and physiological mechanisms (eg, epigenetics and systemic inflammation) that mediate environmental effects on health. Third, we will identify intrinsic (eg, age and sex) and extrinsic (eg, early-life experiences) factors that predispose certain people to NCDs in the face of environmental change to better understand which Orang Asli are at greatest risk of NCDs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Approval was obtained from multiple ethical review boards including the Malaysian Ministry of Health. This study follows established principles for ethical biomedical research among vulnerable indigenous communities, including fostering collaboration, building cultural competency, enhancing transparency, supporting capacity building and disseminating research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J Wallace
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Amanda J Lea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yvonne A L Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Steven K W Chow
- Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Pantai Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Romano Ngui
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Kee-Seong Ng
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Vivek V Venkataraman
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Thomas S Kraft
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Ocobock C, Niclou A. Commentary-fat but fit…and cold? Potential evolutionary and environmental drivers of metabolically healthy obesity. Evol Med Public Health 2022; 10:400-408. [PMID: 36071988 PMCID: PMC9447378 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoac030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As global obesity rates continue to rise, it is important to understand the origin, role and range of human variation of body mass index (BMI) in assessing health and healthcare. A growing body of evidence suggests that BMI is a poor indicator of health across populations, and that there may be a metabolically healthy obese phenotype. Here, we review the reasons why BMI is an inadequate tool for assessing cardiometabolic health. We then suggest that cold climate adaptations may also render BMI an uninformative metric. Underlying evolutionary and environmental drivers may allow for heat conserving larger body sizes without necessarily increasing metabolic health risks. However, there may also be a potential mismatch between modern obesogenic environments and adaptations to cold climates, highlighting the need to further investigate the potential for metabolically healthy obese phenotypes among circumpolar and other populations as well as the broader meaning for metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Alexandra Niclou
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
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6
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Lea AJ, Martins D, Kamau J, Gurven M, Ayroles JF. Urbanization and market integration have strong, nonlinear effects on cardiometabolic health in the Turkana. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabb1430. [PMID: 33087362 PMCID: PMC7577730 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb1430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The "mismatch" between evolved human physiology and Western lifestyles is thought to explain the current epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in industrialized societies. However, this hypothesis has been difficult to test because few populations concurrently span ancestral and modern lifestyles. To address this gap, we collected interview and biomarker data from individuals of Turkana ancestry who practice subsistence-level, nomadic pastoralism (the ancestral way of life for this group), as well as individuals who no longer practice pastoralism and live in urban areas. We found that Turkana who move to cities exhibit poor cardiometabolic health, partially because of a shift toward "Western diets" high in refined carbohydrates. We also show that being born in an urban area independently predicts adult health, such that life-long city dwellers will experience the greatest CVD risk. By focusing on a substantial lifestyle gradient, our work thus informs the timing, magnitude, and evolutionary causes of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Lea
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Dino Martins
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Joseph Kamau
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Julien F Ayroles
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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7
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Ameye H, Swinnen J. Obesity, income and gender: The changing global relationship. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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8
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Baldoni NR, Aquino JA, Alves GCS, Sartorelli DS, Franco LJ, Madeira SP, Dal Fabbro AL. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adult indigenous population in Brazil: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2019; 13:1705-1715. [PMID: 31235082 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2019.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
To carry out a systematic review to identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adult indigenous population in Brazil. The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Science Direct, with the following search strategy: "overweight" OR "obesity" AND "indigenous" OR "tribe" AND "Brazil". For the meta-analysis, RStudio® software was used. Were 22 articles included. The combined effect of the meta-analysis studies showed a global prevalence of overweight and obesity of 45%. Approximately half (45%) of indigenous Brazilian adults have excess weight. These findings highlight the need to implement public policies for the prevention and treatment of these morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Ragi Baldoni
- Universidade de Itaúna (UIT), Rodovia MG 431 Km 45, S/n, Itaúna, MG, 35680-142, Brazil.
| | - Jéssica Azevedo Aquino
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Rua Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, 400, Bairro Chanadour, CEP 35501-296, Divinópolis, MG, Brazil
| | - Geisa Cristina Silva Alves
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Rua Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, 400, Bairro Chanadour, CEP 35501-296, Divinópolis, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniela Saes Sartorelli
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), 3900, Monte Alegre, CEP 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Laercio Joel Franco
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), 3900, Monte Alegre, CEP 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sofia Pereira Madeira
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), 3900, Monte Alegre, CEP 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Amaury Lelis Dal Fabbro
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), 3900, Monte Alegre, CEP 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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You W, Henneberg M. Relaxed natural selection contributes to global obesity increase more in males than in females due to more environmental modifications in female body mass. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199594. [PMID: 30021019 PMCID: PMC6051589 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Relaxed natural selection, measured by Biological State Index (Ibs), results in unfavourable genes/mutations accumulation in population. Obesity is partly heritable. We aim to examine and compare the effects of relaxed natural selection on male and female obesity prevalence. METHODS Data for 191 countries of the world were captured for this ecological study. Curvilinear regressions, bivariate and partial correlations, linear mixed models and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between Ibs and sex-specific obesity prevalence. Per capita GDP, urbanization and caloric intake were controlled for as the confounding factors. Fisher r-to-z transformation, R2 increment in multivariate regression and F-test were used to compare the correlations. RESULTS Curvilinear regressions, bivariate and partial correlations (controlled for GDP, urbanization and calories) revealed that Ibs was significantly correlated to obesity prevalence of both sexes, but significantly stronger to male than to female obesity prevalence. Curvilinear regression models also showed strong correlations. Mixed linear models, with effects of GDP, urbanisation and caloric intake controlled for, showed that male and female average obesity prevalence rates were significantly higher in countries with greater Ibs value than their equivalents in countries with lower Ibs. Between higher and lower Ibs countries, the gap of male obesity prevalence is 60% greater than the gap of female obesity prevalence. Stepwise multiple regression identified that Ibs was a significant predictor of obesity prevalence of both sexes. Multivariate regression showed that, adding Ibs as an obesity predictor, R2 increment in male model was significantly greater than in female model. CONCLUSIONS Relaxed natural selection may drive males and females to accumulate metabolic faulty genes equally. Probably due to greater environmental, personal intervention in regulating female body mass, relaxed natural selection shows less contributing effects to female obesity prevalence than to male obesity prevalence. Gene therapy to prevent obesity may need to be also taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpeng You
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Maciej Henneberg
- Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Dufour DL, Piperata BA. Reflections on nutrition in biological anthropology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 165:855-864. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darna L. Dufour
- Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder Colorado 80309
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11
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García AR, Gurven M, Blackwell AD. A matter of perception: Perceived socio-economic status and cortisol on the island of Utila, Honduras. Am J Hum Biol 2017; 29. [PMID: 28667791 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Numerous studies link low objective and subjective socioeconomic status (SES) to chronic activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we examine associations between objective and subjective SES and diurnal salivary cortisol, a primary HPA component, as well as demographic and ecological predictors associated with SES perceptions and changes in diurnal cortisol. METHODS Participants were residents (age 18-79, n = 61) of Utila, a Honduran island where economic disparities are overt and geographically contained. Objective SES was measured as a composite of income, education, and occupation. Subjective SES was measured with a MacArthur ladder and a perceived lifestyle discrepancy (PLD) scale. Salivary cortisol was collected three times per day for two days. Questions addressing demographic, social, and household characteristics were assessed as predictors of PLD. RESULTS Assessed independently, objective SES (P = .06) and PLD (P = .003) were associated with the steepness of diurnal cortisol changes, while PLD was also associated with higher cortisol area under the curve (AUC) (P = .036). Modeled together, only PLD predicted diurnal slope and AUC. PLD was associated with household sanitation, immigration status, food scarcity, objective SES, and owing money. Only access to sanitation and owing money had direct associations with cortisol that were not mediated by PLD. CONCLUSIONS For adults on Utila, perceptions of unmet need outweigh other social and economic status factors in predicting cortisol AUC and slope. In addition, the unmediated effects of access to sanitation and owing money on cortisol suggest that these distinct aspects of inequality are important to consider when seeking to understand how inequality can impact HPA function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R García
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106-3210
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106-3210
| | - Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106-3210
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12
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Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, Tarskala LA, Egorova AG, Maharova NV, Pinigina IA, Halyev SD, Matveeva NP, Romanova AN. Impaired fasting glucose and metabolic syndrome in an indigenous siberian population. Int J Circumpolar Health 2016; 69:87-98. [DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v69i1.17430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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13
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Islam S, Fitzgerald L. Indigenous obesity in the news: a media analysis of news representation of obesity in Australia's Indigenous population. BMC OBESITY 2016; 3:30. [PMID: 27354919 PMCID: PMC4917929 DOI: 10.1186/s40608-016-0109-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Background High rates of obesity are a significant issue amongst Indigenous populations in many countries around the world. Media framing of issues can play a critical role in shaping public opinion and government policy. A broad range of media analyses have been conducted on various aspects of obesity, however media representation of Indigenous obesity remains unexplored. In this study we investigate how obesity in Australia’s Indigenous population is represented in newsprint media coverage. Method Media articles published between 2007 and 2014 were analysed for the distribution and extent of coverage over time and across Indigenous and mainstream media sources using quantitative content analysis. Representation of the causes and solutions of Indigenous obesity and framing in text and image content was examined using qualitative framing analysis. Results Media coverage of Indigenous obesity was very limited with no clear trends in reporting over time or across sources. The single Indigenous media source was the second largest contributor to the media discourse of this issue. Structural causes/origins were most often cited and individual solutions were comparatively overrepresented. A range of frames were employed across the media sources. All images reinforced textual framing except for one article where the image depicted individual factors whereas the text referred to structural determinants. Conclusion This study provides a starting point for an important area of research that needs further investigation. The findings highlight the importance of alternative news media outlets, such as The Koori Mail, and that these should be developed to enhance the quality and diversity of media coverage. Media organisations can actively contribute to improving Indigenous health through raising awareness, evidence-based balanced reporting, and development of closer ties with Indigenous health workers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40608-016-0109-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salwa Islam
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006 Australia
| | - Lisa Fitzgerald
- School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006 Australia
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14
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Levy SB, Leonard WR, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Josh Snodgrass J. Lifestyle mediates seasonal changes in metabolic health among the yakut (sakha) of northeastern siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2016; 28:868-878. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Larissa A. Tarskaia
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow Russia
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of KansasLawrence Kansas
| | - Tatiana M. Klimova
- Research Institute of Health, MK Ammosov North‐Eastern Federal UniversityYakutsk Russia
| | - Valentina I. Fedorova
- Research Institute of Health, MK Ammosov North‐Eastern Federal UniversityYakutsk Russia
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Abstract
Indigenous populations worldwide are experiencing social, cultural, demographic, nutritional, and psychoemotional changes that have a profound impact on health. Regardless of their geographical location or sociopolitical situation, health indicators are always poorer for indigenous populations than for nonindigenous ones. The determinants of this gap are multiple and interactive, and their analysis requires a biocultural framework. Indigenous populations suffer from lower life expectancy, high infant and child mortality, high maternal morbidity and mortality, heavy infectious disease loads, malnutrition, stunted growth, increasing levels of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, substance abuse, and depression. The devastating effects of colonization, the loss of ancestral land, and language and cultural barriers for access to health care are among the most salient themes characterizing the poor health situation of indigenous people. Anthropology is extremely well suited to address the interplay among social, economic, and political forces that shape the local experiences of illness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J. Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
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16
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Lagranja ES, Phojanakong P, Navarro A, Valeggia CR. Indigenous populations in transition: an evaluation of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors among the Toba of northern Argentina. Ann Hum Biol 2014; 42:84-90. [PMID: 25004443 DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2014.932008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health problems associated with rapidly changing lifestyles in indigenous populations, e.g. cardiovascular disease, are becoming a public health concern. AIM The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and analyse the metabolic conditions that define this syndrome, in an indigenous Toba community of northern Argentina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 275 adults participated in this study. Anthropometric (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference) and clinical measures (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides) were taken. Pearson and logistic regressions were used in the statistical analysis of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by sex and by reproductive status in women. RESULTS The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38%. Nearly a third (31%) of the population was overweight and 45% obese. Men had significantly higher blood pressure and levels of triglycerides than women, while women had higher percentages of body fat. BMI was significantly associated with most of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Menopausal women had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than women of reproductive age. CONCLUSION Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent in this indigenous community, which places them at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Sofía Lagranja
- Doctoral Program in Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba , Argentina
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17
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Andersen S, Rex KF, Noahsen P, Sørensen HCF, Larsen NH, Mulvad G, Laurberg P. Forty-five year trends in overweight and obesity in an indigenous arctic Inuit Society in transition and spatiotemporal trends. Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:511-7. [PMID: 24796319 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 04/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Overweight and obesity associate with increased morbidity and premature death. Westernization of societies heralds rising obesity rates. A steep increase in body mass index (BMI) and overweight in Greenland from 1963 to 1998 led us to follow-up on height, weight, BMI, and rates of overweight among populations in Greenland and assess time trends between different stages of transition. METHODS BMI was calculated from height and weight measured on Inuit and non-Inuit aged 50 through 69 years surveyed in 1963, 1998, and 2008 in Ammassalik district in East Greenland and in 1998 and 2008 in the capital Nuuk in West Greenland. RESULTS A total of 1,186 were surveyed in 1963 (52 men/63 women), 1998 (309/226), and 2008 (297/239). BMI increased with time (P < 0.001; 1963/1998/2008 23.3/24.3/26.2 kg/m(2) ). In addition, BMI increased with urbanization in Inuit men (P = 0.001; settlements/town/city, in 1998, 23.9/24.9/25.5 kg/m(2) ; in 2008, 25.0/26.0/27.0 kg/m(2) ) while not in Inuit women (P = 0.18). The number of overweight Inuit (BMI >27 kg/m(2) ) increased with time in men (4.0/25.6/33.2% in 1963/1998/2008, P = 0.001) and in women (13.6/30.7/37.3%, P = 0.001). BMI was above 30 kg/m(2) in 2.0/10.8/17.5% of all Inuit men in 1963/1998/2008 (P = 0.003) and in 8.3%/23.0/24.5% of all Inuit women (P = 0.02) respectively. CONCLUSIONS Overweight and obesity rates rise with time and with societal transition in Greenland. Settlements and town are catching up with the city where the rate of increase is diminishing, although there were gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stig Andersen
- Arctic Health Research Centre, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine, Queen Ingrids Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Geriatric Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark
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Leonard WR, Levy SB, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Krivoshapkin VG, Snodgrass JJ. Seasonal variation in basal metabolic rates among the Yakut (Sakha) of Northeastern Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2014; 26:437-45. [PMID: 24644044 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Revised: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has shown that indigenous circumpolar populations have elevated basal metabolic rates (BMRs), yet few studies have explored whether metabolic rates increase during the winter. This study addresses this gap by examining seasonal variation in BMR and its associations with thyroid function and lifestyle factors among the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia. METHODS Anthropometric dimensions, BMR, and thyroid hormone levels (free triiodothyronine [fT3], free thyroxine [fT4], thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) were measured on two occasions (July/August, 2009 and January 2011) on a sample of 94 Yakut (Sakha) adults (35 men, 59 women) from the rural village of Berdygestiakh, Sakha Republic, Russia. RESULTS Seasonal changes in BMR varied by age. Younger Yakut adults (19-49 years) showed significant elevations in winter-time BMR of 6% (P < 0.05), whereas older individuals (≥50 years) showed modest declines (2%; n.s.). Both younger and older Yakut men and women showed increased respiratory quotients during the winter. FT3 and fT4 levels significantly declined during the winter in both younger and older Yakut men and women (P < 0.05). Lifestyle factors were significant predictors of BMR variation, particularly among older men and women. CONCLUSIONS Among the Yakut, increased wintertime BMR was observed among younger but not older adults, whereas all adults showed sharp reductions in free thyroid hormone levels during the winter. Among men, greater participation in subsistence activities was associated with increased BMRs and greater fat oxidation. Among women, variation in food use had the strongest impact on metabolic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- W R Leonard
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
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19
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Wilson HJ, Leonard WR, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Krivoshapkin VG, Snodgrass JJ. Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour of Yakut (Sakha) adults. Ann Hum Biol 2013; 41:180-6. [PMID: 24295037 DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2013.838304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circumpolar regions are undergoing social and economic transition, which often corresponds to a behavioural transition. Yet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour are rarely objectively measured within these groups. AIM This study aimed to characterize objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in a sample of indigenous Siberians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Yakut (Sakha) adults (n = 68, 32 men) underwent anthropometry, interviews and wore a triaxial accelerometer for two days. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) or sedentary behaviour was calculated using a single axis and also all three axes. RESULTS Men spent significantly more time in MVPA than women, although no sex difference was found in sedentary behaviour. Participants were far more active and less sedentary when classified using all three axes (vector magnitude) than a single axis. Television viewing time significantly related to sedentary behaviour in men only. CONCLUSION The Yakut have gender differences in amount and predictors of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Triaxial accelerometry is more sensitive to daily physical activity in free living populations than single axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J Wilson
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University , Evanston, IL , USA
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20
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Abstract
Indigenous circumpolar populations have experienced profound transitions in lifeways over the past half-century as a result of economic development. Although there have been positive aspects of this social transformation, most circumpolar groups today have a triple burden of disease, with a modestly elevated infectious disease level, an elevated and increasing burden of chronic conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, and high rates of mental health–related challenges. The health of contemporary circumpolar populations is not easily characterized because of dramatic regional differences that stem from socioeconomic disparities among nonindigenous groups, individual population histories, lifestyle factors, environmental pollution, and underlying biological variation. Overall health and well-being range from excellent among the Sami of Sweden and Norway to extremely poor among marginalized native populations in northern Russia. Circumpolar groups today are not only threatened by continued regional economic development and pollution, but also uniquely vulnerable to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
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21
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Levy SB, Leonard WR, Tarskaia LA, Klimova TM, Fedorova VI, Baltakhinova ME, Krivoshapkin VG, Snodgrass JJ. Seasonal and socioeconomic influences on thyroid function among the Yakut (Sakha) of Eastern Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2013; 25:814-20. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2012] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Levy
- Department of Anthropology; Northwestern University; Evanston Illinois
| | | | - Larissa A. Tarskaia
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences; Moscow Russia
- Department of Anthropology; University of Kansas; Lawrence Kansas
| | - Tatiana M. Klimova
- Research Institute of Health, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; Yakutsk Russia
| | - Valentina I. Fedorova
- Research Institute of Health, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; Yakutsk Russia
| | - Marina E. Baltakhinova
- Research Institute of Health, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; Yakutsk Russia
| | - Vadim G. Krivoshapkin
- Research Institute of Health, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University; Yakutsk Russia
| | - James J. Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology; University of Oregon; Eugene Oregon
- Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences, University of Oregon; Eugene Oregon
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Abstract
There is a global obesity pandemic. However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among men and women varies greatly within and between countries, and overall, more women are obese than men. These gender disparities in overweight and obesity are exacerbated among women in developing countries, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Yet, in developed countries, more men are overweight than women. Current knowledge suggests that myriad sociocultural dynamics throughout the world exacerbate gender disparities in excess weight gain. Different contextual factors drive gender differences in food consumption, and women often report consuming healthier foods, yet may consume more sugar-laden foods, than men. Acculturation, through complex sociocultural pathways, affects weight gain among both men and women. The nutrition transition taking place in many developing countries has also affected excess weight gain among both genders, but has had an even greater impact on the physical activity levels of women. Furthermore, in some countries, cultural values favor larger body size among women or men as a sign of fertility, healthfulness, or prosperity. As the global obesity pandemic continues, more research on gender disparities in overweight and obesity will improve the understanding of this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Kanter
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Benjamin Caballero
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Baltimore, MD, and
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Ross AB, Johansson A, Vavruch-Nilsson V, Hassler S, Sjölander P, Edin-Liljegren A, Gyllensten U. Adherence to a traditional lifestyle affects food and nutrient intake among modern Swedish Sami. Int J Circumpolar Health 2010; 68:372-85. [PMID: 19917189 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v68i4.17371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the nutrient and food intake of Sami still engaged in reindeer herding (traditional lifestyle or reindeer-herding Sami [RS]) and Sami not involved in reindeer herding (industrialized lifestyle or non-reindeer-herding Sami [NRS]) with other northern Swedish populations. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective cardiovascular intervention program in northern Sweden. METHODS Data were used from a prospective cardiovascular intervention program in northern Sweden. Sami recruited into this study were divided according to whether they were involved in reindeer herding (traditional lifestyle, RS) (66 females, 79 males) or not (NRS) (255 females, 195 males), and compared to non-Sami from the same area taking part in the same study (controls) (499 females, 501 males). Subjects completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and clinical parameters were analysed. RESULTS RS had a higher overall intake of energy for both females (P<0.01) and males (P<0.05), but not total food intake compared to controls and NRS. The overall Sami diet was characterized by a higher proportion of energy from protein and fat. RS had a lower energy adjusted intake of vitamins A and E, and fibre, and higher intake of sodium. RS and NRS both had a lower intake of vegetables and a higher intake of meat, and for RS, fish. Nutrient and food-intake patterns were similar for males and females. CONCLUSIONS Classification of Sami into RS and NRS indicates that a traditional lifestyles defined by occupation is reflected in differences in food and nutrient intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair B Ross
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Leonard WR, Sorensen MV, Mosher M, Spitsyn V, Comuzzie AG. Reduced fat oxidation and obesity risks among the Buryat of Southern Siberia. Am J Hum Biol 2009; 21:664-70. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Sorensen MV, Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, McDade TW, Tarskaya LA, Ivanov KI, Krivoshapkin VG, Alekseev VP. Lifestyle incongruity, stress and immune function in indigenous Siberians: The health impacts of rapid social and economic change. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2009; 138:62-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Snodgrass JJ, Leonard WR, Sorensen MV, Tarskaia LA, Mosher MJ. The influence of basal metabolic rate on blood pressure among indigenous Siberians. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2008; 137:145-55. [PMID: 18470897 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Hypertension is an important global health issue and is currently increasing at a rapid pace in most industrializing nations. Although a number of risk factors have been linked with the development of hypertension, including obesity, high dietary sodium, and chronic psychosocial stress, these factors cannot fully explain the variation in blood pressure and hypertension rates that occurs within and between populations. The present study uses data collected on adults from three indigenous Siberian populations (Evenki, Buryat, and Yakut [Sakha]) to test the hypothesis of Luke et al. (Hypertension 43 (2004) 555-560) that basal metabolic rate (BMR) and blood pressure are positively associated independent of body size. When adjusted for body size and composition, as well as potentially confounding variables such as age, smoking status, ethnicity, and degree of urbanization, BMR was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP; P < 0.01) and pulse pressure (PP; P < 0.01); BMR showed a trend with diastolic blood pressure (DBP; P = 0.08). Thus, higher BMR is associated with higher SBP and PP; this is opposite the well-documented inverse relationship between physical activity and blood pressure. If the influence of BMR on blood pressure is confirmed, the systematically elevated BMRs of indigenous Siberians may help explain the relatively high blood pressures and hypertension rates documented among native Siberians in the post-Soviet period. These findings underscore the importance of considering the influence of biological adaptation to regional environmental conditions in structuring health changes associated with economic development and lifestyle change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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Snodgrass JJ, Sorensen MV, Tarskaia LA, Leonard WR. Adaptive dimensions of health research among indigenous Siberians. Am J Hum Biol 2007; 19:165-80. [PMID: 17286259 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Present evidence suggests that modern humans were the first hominid species to successfully colonize high-latitude environments (> or =55 degrees N). Given evidence for a recent (<200,000 years) lower latitude naissance of modern humans, the global dispersal and successful settlement of arctic and subarctic regions represent an unprecedented adaptive shift. This adaptive shift, which included cultural, behavioral, and biological dimensions, allowed human populations to cope with the myriad environmental stressors encountered in circumpolar regions. Although unique morphological and physiological adaptations among contemporary northern residents have been recognized for decades, human biologists are only now beginning to consider whether biological adaptations to regional environmental conditions influence health changes associated with economic modernization and lifestyle change. Recent studies have documented basal metabolic rates (BMRs) among indigenous Siberian populations that are systematically elevated compared to lower latitude groups; this metabolic elevation apparently is a physiological adaptation to cold stress experienced in the circumpolar environment. Important health implications of metabolic adaptation are suggested by research with the Yakut (Sakha), Evenki, and Buriat of Siberia. BMR is significantly positively correlated with blood pressure, independently of body size, body composition, and various potentially confounding variables (e.g., age and smoking). Further, this research has documented a significant negative association between BMR and LDL cholesterol, which remains after controlling for potential confounders; this suggests that high metabolic turnover among indigenous Siberians has a protective effect with regard to plasma lipid levels. These results underscore the importance of incorporating an evolutionary approach into health research among northern populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA.
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Dietary Calcium Intake of 1200 mg/d May Have Negative Correlation on Percent Body Fat. TOP CLIN NUTR 2006. [DOI: 10.1097/00008486-200610000-00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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