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Traditional lifestyles, transition, and implications for healthy aging: An Example from the remote island of Pohnpei, Micronesia.

ABSTRACT: Lifestyle-related, non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity have become critical concerns in the Pacific islands of Micronesia. We investigated the relationship between the diminution of traditional lifestyle practices and the decline in the health of the population in the State of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. To assess this, our interdisciplinary team developed two scales, one to rank individuals on how traditional their lifestyles were and one to rank individuals on the healthiness of their lifestyles. Participants' locations were categorized as living on a remote atoll, living on the main island, or as a transitional population. Pohnpeians living in transitional communities (e.g. recently moved from a remote atoll to the main island, or the reverse) ranked lowest on both the tradition and health scales, rather than ranking intermediate between the remote and main island groups as we had hypothesized. As predicted, individuals residing on the remote atolls were living the most traditional lifestyles and also had the healthiest lifestyles, based on our rating system. The higher an individual scored on the tradition scale, e.g. the more traditional life they lived, the higher they scored on the health scale, suggesting the importance of traditional lifestyle practices for maintaining health. These findings have significant implications for promoting health and longevity of Micronesians and other Pacific Island peoples. We suggest the process of transition be recognized as a significant lifestyle and health risk and be given the attention we give to other risk factors that negatively influence our health. Based on our findings, we discuss and recommend the revitalization of particular traditional lifestyle practices, which may advance healthy aging among Pohnpeians.

SUBMITTER: Balick MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6413935 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Fish spawning aggregations (FSA) act as biological hotspots that concentrate food and nutrients across a broad trophic spectrum. In Pohnpei (Federated States of Micronesia), 20 female grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) were acoustically tagged at two multi-species grouper (Epinephelidae) FSA to examine the likelihood that these mesopredators utilize FSA as a seasonal food source. Both FSA sites are within small-scale MPAs, thus providing a secondary opportunity to examine their conservation potential during these ephemeral events. Shark movement and residency was gauged against known spatial and temporal grouper reproductive patterns using an array of 15 and 50 acoustic receivers at Ant Atoll and Pohnpei (Island), respectively. Activity space was investigated using Kernel Density estimates of individual sharks, and residency indices (RI) were analyzed based on daily and monthly occurrence at the array. Three distinct residency patterns were identified: transient, semi-transient, or resident (Daily RI <0.40, >0.40 to 0.80, or >0.80, respectively). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to identify biological and environmental factors influencing shark activity space, including month, temperature, shark size, spawning month, and residency pattern. Findings revealed significant changes in average monthly residency indices and kernel densities during spawning months in support of an opportunistic foraging strategy around FSA. Monthly residency was higher during spawning months among semi-resident and transient sharks, while average monthly activity space was concentrated around FSA. Best-fit models for the GLMM indicated that activity spaces were most influenced by month and grouper spawning month. Seven of 20 sharks demonstrated inter-island movement and wide variations in individual movement and spatial requirements were shown. The concentration of sharks and groupers at unprotected FSA sites increases their vulnerability to fishing and supports the need for combined area and non-area management measures to effectively protect these species.

Project description:BackgroundThe burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasing in low-to-middle income countries (LMIC). Although strong evidence for inverse associations between socioeconomic position and health outcomes in high-income countries exists, less is known about LMIC. Understanding country-level differences is critical to tailoring effective population health policy and interventions. We examined the association of socioeconomic position and demographic characteristics in determining CVD risk factors among adults living in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.MethodsWe used data from the cross-sectional World Health Organization's STEPwise approach to surveillance 2002 Pohnpei dataset and logistic regression analyses to examine the association of socioeconomic position (education, income, employment) and demographics (age, sex) with selected behavioral and anthropometric CVD risk factors. The study sample consisted of 1638 adults (642 men, 996 women; 25-64 years).ResultsIn general, we found that higher education (?13 years) was associated with lower odds for daily tobacco use (odds ratio [OR]: 0.46, confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.75, p = 0.004) and low physical activity (OR: 0.55, CI: 0.34-0.87, p = 0.027). Men had over three times the odds of daily tobacco use than women (OR: 3.18, CI: 2.29-4.43, p < 0.001). Among women, paid employment nearly doubled the odds of daily tobacco use (OR: 1.72, CI: 1.08-2.73, p = 0.006) than unemployment. For all participants, income >?$10,000 was associated with over twice the odds of high blood pressure (BP) (OR: 2.24, CI: 1.43-3.51, p = 0.003), versus lower-income (<$5,000). Men had over twice the odds of high BP (OR: 2.01, CI: 1.43-2.83, p < 0.001) than women. Paid employment nearly doubled the odds of central obesity with the magnitude of association increasing by more than 20% adjusted for sex and age. Men reporting paid employment had three times the odds of central obesity (OR: 3.00, CI: 1.56-5.78, p < 0.001) than those unemployed.ConclusionOur analysis revealed associations between socioeconomic position and selected CVD risk factors, which varied by risk-factor, sex and age characteristics, and direction of association. The 2002 Pohnpei dataset provides country-level baseline information; further population health surveillance might define trends. Stronger country-level data might help decision-makers tailor population-based prevention strategies.

Project description:The factors that facilitate successful colonization of islands should be especially evident where the establishment filter is strongest. Colonizers of small, remote oceanic islands should be initially rare, extremely mate-limited and often without pollinators. Hence, plant communities on such islands should reflect an establishment history in which young 'naturalized' species are most likely to display self-compatibility and autonomous selfing, whereas 'indigenous' species may exhibit more diverse reproductive strategies. To test this prediction, we characterized breeding systems of 28 species on Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia, a group of remote Pacific islands that are considered a global biodiversity hotspot. Three families with both naturalized and indigenous species were selected-Fabaceae, Malvaceae and Melastomataceae. Measurements included field observations of dichogamy/herkogamy and floral attraction traits, pollen:ovule (P:O) ratios and experimental hand-pollinations for self-compatibility and pollen limitation. Phylogenetic generalized least squares analyses tested for trait correlations between naturalized and indigenous species. Flowers of all 28 species were bisexual, and pollinator attraction features were common. Pollen:ovule ratios ranged from 9 to 557 (median = 87), and all 11 hand-pollinated species were self-compatible. All species had >5 ovules and <3500 pollen grains per flower. Indigenous species did not differ significantly from naturalized species for any trait. There is a dearth of data from remote islands bearing on the question of establishment history. In this study, we inferred all species to have some degree of autogamy and indigenous species were no more likely than naturalized species to display outcrossing mechanisms. On Pohnpei, high ovule numbers, and the inaccessibility of wind pollination and obligate outcrossing strategies, reflect the importance of retaining reproductive assurance mechanisms in the face of pollinator uncertainty.

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Traditional lifestyles, transition, and implications for healthy aging: An Example from the remote island of Pohnpei, Micronesia.

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