Yellowknife (Feb 20/04) - A Yellowknife resident is being recognized nationally for plying quality nutrition skills in the North.

Trish Fitzpatrick has been named the dietician of the month by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. - Colleen Moore/NNSL photo

Trish Fitzpatrick, regional nutrition program co-ordinator with the Yellowknife Health and Social Service Authority, has been named the dietician of the month by the Dairy Farmers of Canada and is currently being profiled on its Web site.

"The areas of food security, international and aboriginal nutrition and eating disorders have been the focus of my career," she said.

Fitzpatrick has worked in many locations across the country, but said there are some hefty challenges in the North when it comes to proper nutrition and a leading a healthy lifestyle.

"It has to do with the availability of foods," she said.

Aboriginal health is a major concern in the North. As harvesting practices become more difficult, nutrition levels are declining, she said.

"Aboriginal people used to be very healthy because traditional food is very healthy," she said. As a result, she said obesity among both adults and children is on the rise -- leading to much more severe diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Fitzpatrick is working on developing the NWT Food Guide slide, an interactive guide to highlight ways for people to eat healthily.