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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition

Consumer Food Insights
A monthly report that surveys and tracks more than 1,200 Americans to follow trends in consumer food behavior and sustainability. April 2022 issue includes rural versus urban data on Food Away From Home (FAFH) spending, food security, food satisfaction, consumer shopping and eating habits, consumer beliefs, and more, based on aggregate data from the January to April 2022 surveys.
Author(s): Jayson L. Lusk, Sam Polzin
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability
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Evaluating the Dissemination and Implementation of a Community Health Worker-Based Community Wide Campaign to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Physical Activity among Latinos along the U.S.-Mexico Border
Describes a culturally tailored community-wide program to augment fruit and vegetable consumption and promote physical activity among 5,686 low-income Latinos of Mexican descent living in Texas. Features demographics and statistics on changes in fruit and vegetable consumption over the course of the intervention.
Author(s): Paul Gerardo Yeh, Belinda M. Reininger, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4514
Date: 04/2022
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Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children's Well-Being
Discusses the impact of afterschool programs related to opportunities for physical activity, nutritious food options, decrease in risky behaviors, and more, based on 31,055 households participating in the America After 3PM survey. Includes charts of survey responses by demographics and rural, suburban, or urban location.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Afterschool Alliance, America After 3PM Health & Wellness
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Agriculture and Local Food Economies in the Appalachian Region
Discusses Appalachia's food systems based on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 2017 Census of Agriculture, highlighting the connection to economic and community development, environmental health and safety, and public health. Provides case studies of food banks that improve community access to food as well as produce prescription programs that help treat chronic diseases and promote community health.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Examples of Successful Evidence-Based Strategies and Current Federal Efforts
Provides an overview of efforts to address social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact individuals living in rural areas, as well as other populations. Discusses housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social and economic mobility, and social service connections in terms of community (upstream) and individual (downstream) SDOH impacts.
Author(s): Amelia Whitman, Nancy De Lew, Andre Chappel, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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USDA Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2022-2026
Provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strategic plan for fiscal years 2022-2026, setting strategic goals related to environmental health, access to services, conservation, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and more. Discusses investment and programs for rural and tribal communities throughout.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthy Lifestyles in Rural Families
Evaluates the effects of the early COVID-19 pandemic on family health behaviors, utilizing thematic analysis of 30 interviews conducted from June 2020 through September 2020 with rural caregivers who were participants in a healthy lifestyles intervention. Discusses themes related to mental health, physical activity, time use, approaches to parenting and family routines, and food choice.
Author(s): Keisha M. England, Bethany Forseth, Maheen Bangash, et al.
Citation: Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living, 2(1), 23-31
Date: 03/2022
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2020 Alabama State Health Assessment
Reports on the health of Alabama residents, providing demographic data and comparing rural and urban areas throughout. Presents county-level data and discussion of 14 selected health indicators, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, pregnancy outcomes, social determinants of health, and environmental health, among others.
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: Alabama Department of Public Health
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Over 9 Million Adults Ages 50 and Older Faced Food Insecurity in 2020
Describes trends in food insecurity of food-insecure adults ages 50 and older between 2010-2020. Highlights demographic characteristics linked to older adult food insecurity, including race, educational attainment, income, sex, and nonmetropolitan residence. Presents state-by-state statistics on food insecurity prevalence by age group.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Carlos Figueiredo
Date: 03/2022
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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A Descriptive Analysis of Food Pantries in Twelve American States: Hours of Operation, Faith-Based Affiliation, and Location
Describes the development and content of a charitable food dataset, including geographic information for 3,777 food pantries in 12 states. Features statistics including food insecurity in 2013-2015 and numbers of food pantries and faith-based food pantries, with breakdowns by state and urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Natalie D. Riediger, Lindsey Dahl, Rajeshwari A. Biradar, Adriana N. Mudryj, Mahmoud Torabi
Citation: BMC Public Health, 22, 525
Date: 03/2022
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