Washington, D.C. – Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 – Today, NAPCA hosted the Confronting Obesity and Obesity Related Illnesses briefing in Washington, D.C., bringing together Congressmembers, over 60 attendees, and healthcare experts to address obesity and related illnesses in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA&NHPI) communities.
During the event, NAPCA’s President & CEO Clayton S. Fong expressed deep gratitude for Congresswoman Michelle Steel and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. “We thank Congresswoman Steel for hosting this briefing. She has always been a steadfast champion for tailored and in-language access for AA&NHPI communities,” Fong said. Highlighting Congresswoman Strickland’s exceptional opening remarks, he added, “Representative Strickland shared a moving story of helping her Korean-speaking mother navigate healthcare growing up, powerfully highlighting her deep understanding of the need for linguistically and culturally inclusive services. We are honored by the support and leadership both Congresswomen bring to these critical conversations.”
Dr. Soo-Young Chin, Obesity Researcher and Co-Founder of Ethnoworks, started the panel off with findings from NAPCA’s study, “Understanding Obesity Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans.” Dr. Chin revealed that obesity prevalence among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans exceeds that of the overall U.S. population and remains persistently high, often masked by aggregated data.
Ofa Matagi, Executive Director of UPIHC: Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition, called for disaggregated data and emphasized the importance of not treating AA&NHPI communities as a monolith. Matagi also highlighted the need for prevention and intervention strategies that integrate cultural practices and linguistic nuances.
Ka Hei Karen Lau, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at Joslin Diabetes Center, highlighted tailored solutions such as culturally relevant recipes provided by the Joslin Diabetes Center. Lau also discussed how despite having a lower average BMI, Asian Americans face a high rate of obesity-related illnesses. This shows how Eurocentric BMI measures may not adequately capture health risks for AA&NHPI individuals and the need for screening at a lower BMI threshold (BMI 23) to enable early prevention and care.
Clayton S. Fong concluded, “Contrary to stereotypes, not everyone in our community is wealthy, an Ivy League graduate, or thin. Obesity and obesity related illnesses is a growing and critical issue. And as we work to improve our nation’s health, it’s essential to advocate for and include the diverse needs of our AA&NHPI communities in the conversation.”
