In contrast to the rich scholarship documenting the traumatic postcontact destruction of indigenous populations in the Latin American tropics, little is known about their contemporary population dynamics. What accounts for the "demographic turnaround" reported for some groups? How widespread is population recovery, and what are its implications for indigenous political resurgence? We address these questions by compiling recent (post-1980) demographic indicators for over one hundred lowland indigenous populations. Despite remarkable socioeconomic and cultural diversity among these groups, we find compelling evidence that they nevertheless share a common trajectory of very rapid growth over the past two decades, especially in contrast to non-indigenous populations. We briefly review the implications of their dramatic physical resurgence and show how closer attention to this phenomenon is overdue. We discuss the relevance of indigenous societies' recovery to scholarship and praxis in the areas of health and education, cultural and political gains, and demographic theory.
High SES women were significantly fatter than low SES women; and variation observed among groups is likely related to different patterns of dietary intake and physical activity.
Objectives
This study examines body composition and nutritional status of Haitian children and adolescents living in urban and peri‐urban communities in the Dominican Republic to provide estimates of stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity for this under‐researched population.
Methods
Anthropometric measures including height, weight, mid‐upper arm circumference, and skinfold thicknesses (triceps and subscapular) were obtained for Kreyòl‐speaking school‐aged children (n = 105, males = 51, females = 54, ages 4–17). Z‐scores for height, body mass index (BMI), and upper arm muscle area by height were used to classify children's nutritional status. Variation among sex and age groups was assessed.
Results
Relatively low rates of stunting (4.8%) and thinness (2.9%) were identified. The total prevalence of overweight was 5.7% and 2.9% of children were classified as having obesity. Girls had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and risk of overweight (16.7%) than boys (3.9%, p = .033).
Conclusions
The prevalence of overweight and obesity (8.6%) suggests that Haitian children in these urban and peri‐urban communities are experiencing the nutrition transition. Interventions should address the development of excess weight, especially among girls, as well as persisting undernutrition and stunting.
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