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Public Education and Information

CDC Press Release

Study Shows Rural Alaska Natives without In-Home Running Water Suffer more Disease

April- Colorectal Cancer

Up until the 1980's cancer deaths in Alaska were rare. But by the 1990's cancer deaths averaged 25% of all deaths in Alaska. Colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon and/or rectum, was the fourth most common cancer death, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and the third leading cause in women.

In addition to the human toll of cancer, the financial costs of cancer are substantial. Treatment costs in Alaska alone can reach $40,000, and that does not count travel or medical treatment sought outside the state, lost productivity/wages or loss of income when the family member dies.

While there are no true certainties about who will be diagnosed with a cancer and who will not, there are many risk factors identified- diet, weight, exercise, and smoking to name just a few.

(Department of Health and Social Services, Healthy Alaskans 2010 )

To reduce your risk of getting many cancers, as well as other chronic diseases, eat a well-balanced diet low in fat and processes sugars and high in whole grains, exercise for 30 minutes 4 times a week, maintain a healthy weight, and stop smoking if you do smoke.

To detect colorectal cancer early, ask your health care provider to conduct annual screening test. If you are 50 years of age or older, be sure to have a colonoscopy for your screening.

Circle of Screening Brochure

For tips on food and menu ideas visit:

American Dietetic Association

For more information on Cancer, specifically Colorectal Cancer:

CDC- Screening Saves Lives

American Cancer Society

Colon Cancer Testing Saves Lives

March – National Nutrition Month

Alaskan adults who meet the criteria for overweight - 41%

US adults who meet the criteria for overweight - 37%

Alaskan low-income children who meet the criteria for overweight - 13.9%

US low-income children who meet the criteria for overweight - 11%

Nutrition is essential for growth and development, health, and wellbeing. Diet and nutrition play an important role in the development or prevention of four of the top 10 leading causes of death in Alaska and the United States: cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and type 2 diabetes. (Source: DHSS Health Alaskans 2010 publication.)

In November 2007, the US Dept of Health and Human Services launched an initiative to address the growing number of overweight and obese Americans.

An excerpt from a press release from the Surgeon General's office, November 27, 2007

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) (1976-1980 and 2003-2004) show that prevalence of childhood overweight is increasing. For children aged 2-5 years, the prevalence increased from 5.0 percent to 13.9 percent; for those aged 6-11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5 percent to 18.8 percent; and for those aged 12-19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0 percent to 17.4 percent.”

“Overweight children have a higher risk of being overweight or obese as adults, and facing the health problems that can result,'' HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “Parents, government officials, community and education leaders must work together to help the children. I'm pleased that Rear Admiral Steven Galson, the acting surgeon general, is leading this important initiative.”

Study Shows Food Companies Target Captive School Audience

CSPI, Jan 31, 2008
WASHINGTON Junk-food and soda makers directly market to young children right in their schools, according to a new survey of public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. Conducted at the request of Montgomery County Council Member George Leventhal, chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) found that the most prevalent forms of marketing in schools are signs on the exteriors of vending machines, food sales in vending machines, posters, and school fundraisers.

Eighty-three percent of schools have posters or signs with food or beverage marketing messages (such as posters for Rich's ice cream or Little Debbie snack cakes), and less than half (42 percent) of those signs market healthier categories such as dairy.

Vending machines are a major source of marketing through product sales and advertising on the machine's exterior. The county has strong nutrition standards for food sold in schools. While schools are working to reduce junk-food sales, many vending machines are still stocked with soda, juice drinks, iced tea, candy, cookies and chips.

Eighty-two percent of the vending machines have some marketing messages on their exteriorsmost commonly, the images are of branded sodas, snacks, juice or water. All high schools and middle schools surveyed have vending machines, with an average of 21 vending machines in each high school.

For more information on Nutrition issues that may be important to you:

Alaska School Food Service Association

http://www.aksna.org/

US Dept of Health and Human Services

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

http://www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines/

State of Alaska

Public Assistance

Family Nutrition

http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/nutri/

Alaska Traditional Knowledge and Native Foods Database

http://www.nativeknowledge.org/start.htm