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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition

The Influence of Food Store Access on Grocery Shopping and Food Spending
Reports on households that do not use their own vehicle to travel to a store and live more than half a mile from a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) authorized supermarket or superstore. Includes data on household sources of food, including stores, family and friends, the household's own production, food pantries, and other sources. Data is provided by distance, and the report notes that all households more than 10 miles from the nearest SNAP-authorized store and 55% of households 1-10 miles from a SNAP-authorized store are in rural areas.
Author(s): Michele Ver Ploeg, Elizabeth Larimore, Parke Wilde
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Agriculture and Health Sectors Collaborate in Addressing Population Health
An overview of the collaboration between the Cooperative Extension Service and the health sector in various states and the impact this collaboration has on population health through community-based efforts, including health and wellness and 4-H programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Describes a case study of a collaborative model in New Mexico.
Author(s): Arthur Kaufman, Jon Boren, Sonja Koukel, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine,15(5), 475-480
Date: 09/2017
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Variations in Obesity Rates between US Counties: Impacts of Activity Access, Food Environments, and Settlement Patterns
Describes differences in obesity rates among U.S. counties based on rurality, region, poverty level, and ethnicity. Analyzes access to physical activity facilities, food environments, and settlement patterns, defined as residential density and car dependence, to determine potential explanations for geographic variations.
Author(s): Peter Congdon
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1023
Date: 09/2017
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A Community Holding Hands to Bridge its Divide
Describes the actions taken and programs developed by the residents of Garrett County, Maryland, in response to the economic, cultural, and health challenges they face. Working together, the Garrett County residents have been able to provide scholarships to every high school graduate to attend community college for free, develop 700 affordable, low-income, mixed-income, and workforce housing units, and more. Garrett County is a recipient of the 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health Prize.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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A 'Scrappy' Push for Health: 'Our Best Asset Is Our People'
Provides an overview of health challenges in Allen County, Kansas, and actions that communities in the area have taken to address them, including fundraising for a local hospital, building bike and walking trails, establishing job training programs, advocating for improved access to healthy food, and more. Allen County is a recipient of the 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health Prize.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Promoting a Nutritious Diet Inside and Outside the Hospital
Highlights a rural Vermont hospital's efforts to promote healthier eating habits both inside and outside the hospital by locally sourcing food, encouraging participation in their "Ton of Tomatoes" project, and processing produce to help food-insecure community members. Discusses efforts of other hospitals promoting healthy diets, including removing unhealthy cafeteria meal options and promoting community gardens.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Longitudinal Analysis of Nut-Inclusive Diets and Body Mass Index Among Overweight and Obese African American Women Living in Rural Alabama and Mississippi, 2011-2013
Results of a weight loss intervention among 383 overweight women in 8 rural Alabama and Mississippi counties, evaluating the association between intake of nuts and other select food groups with participants' body mass index (BMI) over a 24-month period. Features data on participants' income, education, rates of consumption of various foods, and more.
Author(s): Samara R. Sterling, Brenda Bertrand, Suzanne Judd, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 14, 160595
Date: 09/2017
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The Differences in Characteristics Among Households With and Without Obese Children: Findings From USDA's FoodAPS
Examines characteristics of households with at least one obese child and without any obese children. Table 2 compares rural and urban household financial well-being, as it relates to obesity. Table 3 examines the food environment for rural households with and without obese children.
Author(s): Young Jo
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Social Determinants of Health: A Quick Reference Guide for State Offices of Rural Health and State and Territorial Health Officials
Provides an overview of social determinants of health (SDOH) in rural communities and lists partners, resources, and national-level initiatives related to 4 significant SDOH in rural areas: housing, transportation, education, and food insecurity. Intended to serve as a starting point and guide for rural organizations that wish to address SDOH through multi-sector collaboration.
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Household Food Security in the United States in 2016
Reports on household food security, food expenditures, and use of federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2016. Includes food insecurity statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Additional links: Report Summary, Statistical Supplement
Author(s): Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, Anita Singh
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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