whilst in some parts of the world malnutrition affects maternal and infant health and child development in other regions it contributes to an increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as obesity diabetes and cardiovascular disease among indigenous peoples in the state of arizona in the united states for example the pima indian tribe has the highest rate of diabetes in the world as some per cent of the pima between the ages of and have diabetes the contamination and destruction of natural habitats and the disappearance of wildlife plants and animals have resulted in the erosion of traditional food systems and decreased food security