Grant: Project Grant

Indigenous Peoples share a profound connection with the land, upon which their health, wellbeing, and cultural identity is built. However, many Indigenous communities across Canada face significant barriers to accessing healthy food choices, while reliance on market foods and poor diet leads to elevated rates of obesity and related chronic conditions. The alarmingly high obesity rates, amplified by limited health care in remote Indigenous communities, underscore the urgent need for innovative strategies to manage obesity and improve metabolic health. Emerging evidence suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) can play an important role in obesity prevention and management by enabling precise, personalized, scalable, and culturally responsive interventions. The use of AI is revolutionizing obesity treatment by enabling personalized healthcare strategies. Moreover, AI facilitates continuous monitoring and adaptive feedback, leverages wearable technology for real-time recommendations, and addresses psychological aspects through customized behavioral interventions. To bridge the gap between the high need and lack of options in obesity management in remote Indigenous communities, we will examine the effectiveness of a science-based, clinician co-developed, AI-supported digital obesity treatment in five Anisininew communities in Manitoba, and will investigate community acceptance of the intervention by implementing a culturally grounded framework and Indigenous People's community perspectives into then AI-based digital obesity intervention program. Anisininew First Nations will participate in modifying the app according to Indigenous culture, traditions and values, enhance technology with the use of oral tradition, storytelling, and visual arts, and by providing feedback and suggestions on modifying the educational components of the program to make the messaging clear, culturally relevant, "wholistic" and motivational towards self-empowerment and improved well-being.