So I was quite emotional when I came across that article earlier on today in the UK Dailymail with the headline: American Samoas Battle against obesity as 95% of the nation are declared overweight. 16 months ago, I was that statistic. I had lived in American Samoa for a good decade and while I am not from AS, I became one. My students, friends and colleagues brought the place closer to my heart and now that I live in the US, American Samoa is home and I leap at protecting Her from any stereotype. Be that as it may, this is not the kind of headline we want to read in a metropolitan newspaper about our people. And yet, it is perhaps exactly the kind of article that should compel us all towards taking steps towards our own wellness, optimum health and those of our families. While there is a lot of truth in the article when we compare BMIs, bone density, and all the other factors that bring in our genetic make-up into the argument, the more pressing truth is, we have reached a crisis point with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses that I know are already slowly crippling our island nations (not merely AS) and how they are escalating at an alarmingly fast rate. When I left Pago to move here sixteen months ago I was very hopeful. There are definitely more and more people out there who have taken on the role of activists against obesity and diabetes and these are the warriors (and Im proud to say, some of them are my own friends) who initiate walking programs at 5am and in the evenings, monthly walks on Saturdays, aerobics, kick-boxing, little league football, soccer and many other physical activities that are having people move and sweat. Just seeing Dr. John Tuiteles name in the article made me emotional. As far as the article is concerned, he is just a native, a source but to me, he is my friend. And so when we read these things away from Samoa, the people described are not merely sources or statistics but they are people we know. They are our sisters, our mothers, our aunties, our brothers, our grandfathers. They are us. And of course salt is spreading across my face as I try to finish this status but I know for one that there are still a lot of questions that need to be addressed when it comes to diet in AS and across the Pacific. I was pleasantly happy to see that the only share on that article was by the National Tongan American Society. Malo aupito! FYI: While I was in Pago, I found local vegetables to be more expensive in comparison to those imported from NZ, Australia and the US. Perhaps subsidizing local farmers to produce more organic vegetables would be a key. And while I was there, the Department of Education has revamped its entire School Lunch menu to include brown rice and locally produced vegetables, so there is definitely steps being taken as we speak. Still, and Ive come to know that a plant-based diet is the way to go for me. The changes I see in my own health have come from being actively engaged in this life-style change. Processed foods is very much widespread because of it being easily available and cheap. Yet, we really need to look at the long term impact and the cost not only on us physically and emotionally, but on our islands economies ability to sustain dialysis machines and other life supporting treatments for disease that are within our control. I can go on and on about this issue, but what I do wish to address, is this, lets celebrate the first steps we are taking. Lets always continue to reach out to our community. To share the knowledge we have. The statistics are depressing. But we dont have to be. We can turn them around. To compel and to inspire us towards taking charge. And owning it. INVICTUS!
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 01:26:35 +0000
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