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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Food security and nutrition

Nutrition-Related Policy and Environmental Strategies to Prevent Obesity in Rural Communities: A Systematic Review of the Literature, 2002-2013
Summarizes findings from 29 rural studies of obesity prevention interventions using nutrition-related and environmental strategies. Includes interventions in school, tribal, farmers market, and other settings. Discusses common strategies for adapting and implementing these programs in rural communities.
Author(s): Larissa Calancie, Jennifer Leeman, Stephanie B. Jilcott Pitts, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 12
Date: 04/2015
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Disparities Persist in Nutrition Policies and Practices in Minnesota Secondary Schools
Examines school nutrition policies and practices by school characteristics in Minnesota secondary schools between 2008 and 2012. Compares school nutrition policies by rural versus urban/suburban location and across three main areas: the availability of low-nutrient, energy dense (LNED) items, strategies to engage students in healthy eating, and restrictions on advertising LNED products around the school.
Author(s): Caitlin Eicher Caspi, Cynthia Davey, Toben F. Nelson, et al.
Citation: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 115(3), 419-425
Date: 03/2015
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Lack of Healthy Food Options on Children's Menus of Restaurants in the Health-Disparate Dan River Region of Virginia and North Carolina, 2013
Community-based participatory research study describing the quality of food on children's menus in 137 restaurants located in three predominantly rural counties in Virginia and North Carolina, areas with high rates of diabetes and obesity among adults. Looked at healthy eating options for rural compared to urban locations and for areas that are predominantly Black, White, and mixed race.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Nicole C. Olive, Clarice N. Waters, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 12
Date: 03/2015
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Evaluation of a Pilot Healthy Eating Intervention in Restaurants and Food Stores of a Rural Community: A Randomized Community Trial
Examines 2 rural Midwest U.S. communities, one community serving as the control and the other receiving the Waupaca Eating Smart (WES) intervention designed to improve the food environment and promote healthy eating in restaurants and supermarkets. Includes statistics on nutrition environment scores, customer satisfaction with food choice availability, and food purchase history for both before and after the intervention.
Author(s): Ana P. Martínez-Donate, Ann Josie Riggall, Amy M. Meinen, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 15, 136
Date: 02/2015
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Community Members' Input into Cancer Prevention Campaign Development and Experience Being Featured in the Campaign
Explores the partnership between cancer researchers and community members who worked together to develop county-specific media campaigns to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates and fruit and vegetable consumption in Appalachian Ohio. Covers the experiences of community members featured in the media campaigns. Includes demographic information for both media campaigns, such as sex, education, personal history of CRC, and first-degree relative with CRC.
Author(s): Mira L. Katz, Brittney Keller, Cathy M. Tatum, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 9(2), 149-156
Date: 2015
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Rural Healthy People 2020: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2020, Volume 1
Provides a rural focus for the Healthy People 2020 priorities. Includes overviews of the top 10 rural health priority areas identified by rural stakeholders. (Volume 2 discusses priorities 11-20.) Topics addressed include: health insurance, primary care, emergency services, nutrition and weight status, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse, heart disease and stroke, physical activity, older adults, maternal and child health, and tobacco use. Each overview includes reviews of the relevant literature and models that rural communities can use to address the issues. Document is available for free download, after providing brief information about intended use.
Author(s): Jane N. Bolin, Gail Bellamy, Alva O. Ferdinand, Bita Kash, Janet W. Helduser
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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A Community-Based, Culturally Relevant Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity among Middle-Aged African American Women in Rural Alabama: Findings from a Group Randomized Controlled Trial
Examines a community-based, culturally relevant intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity among African American women between the ages of 45-65 living in rural Alabama. Includes study participant demographic data at the starting baseline and a 24 month follow up. Covers healthy lifestyle data at the starting baseline, 12 month, and 24 month follow up for dietary and physical activity measures.
Author(s): Isabel C. Scarinci, Artisha Moore, Theresa Wynn, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 69, 13-20
Date: 12/2014
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Assessment of Mobile Device and SMS Use for Diet and Exercise Information among Rural Mexican-American Adolescents
Study examining how rural Mexican-American youth use the Internet or short message service (SMS) on mobile devices to access health related information to learn about diet and exercise. Evaluates the use of mobile devices for diet and exercise knowledge and its utility in planning interventions to address obesity among the study population.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Collins, Jane Dimmitt Champion
Citation: Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 29(6), 493-502
Date: 11/2014
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Disparities in Obesity Among Rural and Urban Residents in a Health Disparate Region
Reports on a community-based study to measure and compare the current levels of obesity and associated lifestyle behaviors of physical activity and diets of fruits and vegetables among rural and urban residents in south central Virginia and north central North Carolina.
Author(s): Jennie L. Hill, Wen You, Jamie M. Zoellner
Citation: BMC Public Health, 2014(14), 1051
Date: 10/2014
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Home Food and Activity Assessment: Development and Validation of an Instrument for Diverse Families of Young Children
Outlines and tests an assessment tool that measures the home food and activity environments of geographically and economically varied families of preschool aged children in rural Colorado.
Author(s): Richard E. Boles, Alexandra Burdell, Susan L. Johnson, et al.
Citation: Appetite, 80, 23-27
Date: 09/2014
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