Non-Communicable Diseases: The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill approximately 38 million people each year and often occur in low/middle income countries. In the United States, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes account for eighty eight percent of the total deaths. Although the US is a high income country NCDs account for more than three fourths of the total deaths. Rural areas in the US are more likely to be affected by NCDs due to food insecurity. Food scarcity is defined as having limited or little access to food that is nutritionally adequate, safe and socially acceptable. American Indians who live in rural areas of the US are more prone to non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease due to food
These food deserts in America should not exist and the individuals living in rural areas should have more access to food programs to lower food scarcity which will help lower NCDs In the Journal Article, “High food insecurity and its correlates among families living on a rural American Indian reservation”, the researchers went to the Pine Ridge Indian reservation to better understand the prevalence and consequences of food scarcity amongst American