Assessment of acculturation and its associations with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and obesity in an isolated Canadian Aboriginal community

One approach used to identify causal risk factors for disease in First Nations has been a biocultural model. This integration allows for an analysis of cultural risk factors which still retains teal biologic plausibility. For this study, subscales of acculturation were developed and test of associations were made with health outcomes in Sandy Lake, Ontario. Factor analysis was performed on the data and tests for association then examined the relationship between subscales of acculturation and disease. The results indicated that (a) the risk of becoming obese or of developing IGT is lower among individuals with a diet high in traditional food, (b) the risk of developing diabetes and IGT is lower among those who report having items used for traditional rather than modern activities in their home, and (c) diabetes is less common among those proficient in Oji-Cree. These results are important in designing prevention and health promotion strategies in the community.