Year 9 body systems assignment

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a much lower life expectancy than the general Australian population. Indigenous Australians born in the period 1996-2001 are estimated to have a life expectancy at birth of 59.4 years for males, and 64.8 years for females. This is approximately 16-17 years less than the overall Australian population born over the same period Causes for this poor health and low life expectancy include: poverty, poor nutrition, poor housing, dispossession of their traditional lands, low education level, high unemployment, hidden racism and inability of politicians to address Indigenous problems. One health issue which is of concern in the indigenous population is type 2 diabetes. There's a high rate of unemployment and the foods that theyre exposed to are high in calories, fat and carbohydrates. As a result, theres a high rate of obesity and the obesity leads to high rates of diabetes. Governments have made plans and put forward ideas of how to lessen the harmful effects of diabetes among Indigenous people. Some of these include: The National Diabetes Strategy and Implementation Plan National Diabetes Strategy 20002004 Western Australian Diabetes Strategy 1999 Healthy lifestyles A strategic framework for the primary prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Western Australia 2002-2007 NSW chronic disease prevention strategy 2003-2007 In view of its seriousness for Indigenous people, it appears that much more could be done to reduce and deal with diabetes. By Emma James