Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Obesity and weight control
The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Among Rural Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Excess Weight
Analyzes how receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) varies among rural and urban-dwelling veterans with obstructive sleep apnea and excess weight, using 2018-2023 Veterans Health Administration data.
Author(s): Aristotle G. Leonhard, Kevin Josey, Jason M. Castaneda, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 23(7), 1087-1096
Date: 06/2026
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Analyzes how receipt of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) varies among rural and urban-dwelling veterans with obstructive sleep apnea and excess weight, using 2018-2023 Veterans Health Administration data.
Author(s): Aristotle G. Leonhard, Kevin Josey, Jason M. Castaneda, et al.
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 23(7), 1087-1096
Date: 06/2026
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Testing Implementation Strategies for a Family Healthy Weight Program: Results From the Nebraska Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0 Pilot Trial
Examines the Building Healthy Families (BHF) Online Training Resources and Program Package that is used to help rural areas in Nebraska adopt and implement a family healthy weight program (FHWP). Analyzes a pilot study that implements the BHF Program Package with and without a learning collaborative option and discusses quality of online training resources, child engagement, implementation fidelity, and more.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, Bryce M. Abbey, et al.
Citation: Childhood Obesity Research, 4, 223-232
Date: 06/2026
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Examines the Building Healthy Families (BHF) Online Training Resources and Program Package that is used to help rural areas in Nebraska adopt and implement a family healthy weight program (FHWP). Analyzes a pilot study that implements the BHF Program Package with and without a learning collaborative option and discusses quality of online training resources, child engagement, implementation fidelity, and more.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, Bryce M. Abbey, et al.
Citation: Childhood Obesity Research, 4, 223-232
Date: 06/2026
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Population-Based Associations of Body Mass Index and Treatments Received for Breast Cancer in a Rural, Midwestern State
Examines how breast cancer treatment differed by body mass index (BMI), using 2010-2020 Iowa Cancer Registry data of 18,115 patients. Includes data breakdowns by patient rurality and hospital rurality.
Author(s): Breanna L. Blaess, Amanda R. Kahl, Ingrid Lizarraga, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(4), e71831
Date: 04/2026
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Examines how breast cancer treatment differed by body mass index (BMI), using 2010-2020 Iowa Cancer Registry data of 18,115 patients. Includes data breakdowns by patient rurality and hospital rurality.
Author(s): Breanna L. Blaess, Amanda R. Kahl, Ingrid Lizarraga, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 15(4), e71831
Date: 04/2026
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Virginia's Plan for Well-Being: 2025-2029
Offers a data and community-driven roadmap to improve health outcomes and ensure that all Virginians live in conditions that allow them to thrive. Includes statistics on social determinants of health, infant mortality, firearm-related deaths and injury, obesity, mental health, substance use disorder, and housing. Features a county-level map showing rates of drug overdose deaths as of 2021. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health
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Offers a data and community-driven roadmap to improve health outcomes and ensure that all Virginians live in conditions that allow them to thrive. Includes statistics on social determinants of health, infant mortality, firearm-related deaths and injury, obesity, mental health, substance use disorder, and housing. Features a county-level map showing rates of drug overdose deaths as of 2021. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health
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Rural Community Engagement and Cultural Considerations in the Design and Deployment of Remote Health Monitoring Systems: A Scoping Review
Presents a literature review exploring whether remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are designed with rural communities in mind as a solution for healthcare access issues. Details RHMS literature by study design, healthcare focus, and issue being monitored, among other measures.
Author(s): Kelly Reed, Victoria M. Petermann, Rhys D. Nicholas, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70141
Date: 04/2026
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Presents a literature review exploring whether remote health monitoring systems (RHMS) are designed with rural communities in mind as a solution for healthcare access issues. Details RHMS literature by study design, healthcare focus, and issue being monitored, among other measures.
Author(s): Kelly Reed, Victoria M. Petermann, Rhys D. Nicholas, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70141
Date: 04/2026
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Aerobic Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024
Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers data highlighting aerobic physical activity among adults. Includes a data breakdown by 4 levels of urbanization in addition to other demographic characteristics, family income, education, disability status, and body mass index.
Author(s): Nazik Elgaddal, Ellen A. Kramarow
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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The Weight of Our Children: New Mexico Childhood Obesity 2025 Update
Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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Provides an overview of childhood obesity in New Mexico in 2025, including demographic breakdowns, and highlights state programs addressing obesity in low-income, rural, and tribal communities. Provides strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and includes a state map of Healthy Kids Healthy Communities (HKHC) counties.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: New Mexico Department of Health
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A Multi-Level Intervention to Address Childhood Obesity in Rural Hispanic Communities
Provides results from the Together We STRIDE study, a multi-level, community-based pediatric obesity intervention for Hispanic elementary school students and their families in Washington State's Yakima County.
Author(s): Linda K. Ko, Eileen Rillamas-Sun, Mario Kratz, et al.
Citation: Obesity Science and Practice, 12(1), e70116
Date: 01/2026
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Provides results from the Together We STRIDE study, a multi-level, community-based pediatric obesity intervention for Hispanic elementary school students and their families in Washington State's Yakima County.
Author(s): Linda K. Ko, Eileen Rillamas-Sun, Mario Kratz, et al.
Citation: Obesity Science and Practice, 12(1), e70116
Date: 01/2026
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