U.S. Interior Assistant Secretary of Insular Areas Anthony Babauta is asking local residents to adopt healthier lifestyles.
He said he understands changing eating habits can be tough but urges people to reconsider foods such as pisupo, canned corned beef popular among Samoans.
A November report ranked the people of American Samoa as among the most obese in the world. More than 90 percent of the population is overweight and 75 percent is obese.
Babauta said he joined Samoan NFL football player Troy Polumalu earlier this month in an event to combat obesity among Pacific Islanders.
Babauta spoke at Saturday’s Flag Day ceremony, marking 111 years since American Samoa became a U.S. territory.
