Israel to the rescue: Curing Pacific islands of obesity
Israeli experts attempt to cure Pacific Ocean Islanders of diabetes, obesity starting with junk food die-hard Samoans. Experts' delegation devises national prevention, treatment program for Polynesian country
Israel has decided to help Pacific Ocean island states which have been struggling with extremely high rates of diabetes and obesity among children and adults, casuing many limb amputations, heart conditions and kidney failures.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently sent a team of experts to the Independent State of Samoa, located in the south Pacific ocean half way between New Zealand and Hawaii, in an effort to assist in the country in curbing the illnesses.
Twenty-three percent of Samoans suffer from diabetes, while 57% of residents over 25 are extremely obese. In comparison, only 8% of Israelis are ill with diabetes, according to the most grim estimates.
The team of experts includes Orly Tamir, a researcher from the Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care and director of the children's healthy living program, and Dr. Roy Eldor, a diabetes expert in the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
Tamir and Eldor's week-long visit in Samoa included meeting locals, among them children, leading local figures as well as doctors and medical teams. The experts observed Samoan school students, examining the children's eating habits. Samoan children are particularly partial to junk food and doughnuts whereas the older generation has an odd affection to the Arum root (used in Israel for soldiers' canned beef rations), which cause them to get bigger than they already are.
The Polynesian people have large body structures being tall and wide-bodied, as a result the World Health organization has even set special new categories for their body mass, different than the ones used in the western world. The Samoan health system is particularly under-developed and consequently the entire state employs only one dietitian who does not cater for diabetics.
Prevention program
Upon their return to Israel Tamir and Eldor devised a national plan for prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes, which was sent to the Samoan government. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assist Samoan officials with implementing the program which mainly focuses on prevention measures but also on improving care in the local medical facilities.
The program also addresses issues of healthy lifestyle and nutrition. The Foreign Office plans on sending more experts, trainees and volunteers to Samoa for periods of several months.
Michael Ronen, Israel's ambassador to the Pacific Ocean Islands, who initiated the Israeli delegation says that "these are island states which are very friendly towards Israel in International forums and the UN. This is our chance to thank them for their friendliness."
