Category: Indigenous peoples

According to Statistics Canada, the adjusted self-reported obesity rate for adult Inuk (Inuit) people in 2021-2022 was 43.6%, significantly higher than the 29.2% for non-Indigenous people during the same period. Understanding what is the obesity rate for the Inuit people requires examining a complex web of interconnected social, economic, and environmental factors.

For the San people of the Kalahari, who have one of the oldest cultures on Earth, plant foods gathered by women often make up around 75% of their total dietary intake, a surprising fact for a traditionally "hunter-gatherer" society.

Historically, the diet of Arctic peoples was almost entirely dependent on hunting and fishing, a necessity driven by the harsh climate that made agriculture impossible. The traditional food sources of the Inuit, often referred to as Eskimos, provided all the necessary nutrients, from energy-rich fat to vital vitamins.

For millennia, the traditional Inuit diet, rich in marine mammal fats and fatty fish, has provided a reliable source of vitamin D, allowing them to thrive in regions with minimal sun exposure. This success is a result of a fascinating interplay between their high-fat diet, cultural practices, and physiological evolution.