First sign of obesity in Arctic people is discovered after remote tribes are exposed to instant noodles and pasta

  • Research has found changing diets in Siberian tribes is leading to obesity 
  • Traditional foods meant obesity was unknown among these indigenous peoples
  • Venison and fresh river fish have healthy benefits specific to the harsh climate
  • But 'convenient' instant noodles and other carbohydrates are now staples

By Will Stewart for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

The first-ever cases of obesity have been recorded among nomadic Arctic reindeer herders, after they became exposed to instant noodles and other junk foods.

Russian scientists are warning about the dramatic change in the Nenets and Khanty peoples on the icy Yamal peninsula in northern Siberia, who for centuries had eaten only traditional foods.

A diet based on venison and fresh river fish meant that obesity was unknown among these indigenous peoples, but now outside influences are changing everything. 

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Exposure to instant noodles and other junk food has led to the first known cases of obesity in nomadic Arctic reindeer herders

Exposure to instant noodles and other junk food has led to the first known cases of obesity in nomadic Arctic reindeer herders

THE FINDINGS 

The study focused on the Nenets and Khanty peoples on the icy Yamal peninsula in northern Siberia. 

It found that intake of venison and river fish by the nomadic tribes has been cut by half, as noodles, pasta, bread, pastry and sugar became part of the diet. 

Venison has been found to help to avoid frostbite, while fish can increase the resistance to cold stress as well as helping to prevent hypertension and respiratory disease.

Herders are also walking shorter distance to stay close to Russian energy companies in the area whose workers will buy their meat.

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Alexey Titovsky is head of science and innovation in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region of the Russian Federation.

His team has found that the intake of venison and river fish by the nomadic tribes has been cut by half, as noodles, pasta, bread, pastry and sugar became part of the diet.

The herders often buy instant noodles in villages on their pasture routes and this has led to the decline in the consumption of more traditional food sources.

Obesity is not the only negative side-effect to this change in diet, according to the researchers.  

Conditions are harsh and traditional food allow the tribes-people to adapt better to the climate.

Venison has been found to help to avoid frostbite and eating fish fat, like that of the broad whitefish found in the area, increase the resistance to cold stress.

Conditions in the area are harsh and traditional foods allow the tribes-people to adapt better to the climate

Conditions in the area are harsh and traditional foods allow the tribes-people to adapt better to the climate

Eating fish fat, like that of the broad whitefish found in the area, increase the resistance to cold stress. Fish like pike, and burbot can also help to prevent hypertension and respiratory disease

Eating fish fat, like that of the broad whitefish found in the area, increase the resistance to cold stress. Fish like pike, and burbot can also help to prevent hypertension and respiratory disease

Fish like pike, and burbot can also help to prevent hypertension and respiratory disease. 

Another problem affecting obesity is that the nomadic routes have been shortened by traditional herders.

The distance of pasture routes of nomadic herders with their reindeer have halved over the past 25 years, according to a report in The Siberian Times which revealed details of the obesity concerns.

Russia is exploiting oil and gas reserves in the region, and herders stay closer to the energy company facilities to sell their meat to workers. 

So the herders are walking shorter distances on the reindeer pasture route and consequently burning fewer calories.

The study took place in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region in the north of the Russian Federation

The study took place in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region in the north of the Russian Federation

Another problem affecting obesity is that the nomadic routes have been shortened by traditional herders, as they seek to stay close to Russian energy company's facilities to sell the reindeer meat

Another problem affecting obesity is that the nomadic routes have been shortened by traditional herders, as they seek to stay close to Russian energy company's facilities to sell the reindeer meat

Dr Titovsky said: 'Over the past few years the diet has changed considerably, and people living in the tundra started eating so-called chemically processed products.'

'It never happened before that the small local indigenous peoples of the north suffered from obesity.'

'It is a nonsensical modern problem. Now even a predisposition to obesity is being noticed.'

Noodles, pasta, bread, pastry and sugar have become part of the tribes' diets, leading to a fifty per cent reduction in the consumption of traditional foods

Noodles, pasta, bread, pastry and sugar have become part of the tribes' diets, leading to a fifty per cent reduction in the consumption of traditional foods

The herders often buy instant noodles in villages on their pasture routes and this has led to the decline in the consumption of more traditional food sources

The herders often buy instant noodles in villages on their pasture routes and this has led to the decline in the consumption of more traditional food sources

'The volume of consumed carbohydrates increases significantly. They replace their traditional food with them,' he warned. 

'Noodles and other fast foods are "easy" to eat and transport but the lack of traditional venison and fish in the diet is bad.

'The problem is that carbohydrates do not contain the necessary micro elements which help survival in Arctic conditions.'

A diet of venison and fresh river fish actually have health benefits specific to the harsh climate of the Yamalo-Nenets region of Siberia

A diet of venison and fresh river fish actually have health benefits specific to the harsh climate of the Yamalo-Nenets region of Siberia

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