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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Obesity and weight control

Associations Between Obesity, Physical Inactivity, Healthcare Capacity, and the Built Environment: Geographic Information System Analysis
Explores the impacts healthcare capacity and the built environment have on obesity and physical inactivity. Identifies variations in rural versus urban areas relating to access to healthcare facilities and opportunities to exercise, based on demographic data obtained from a variety of secondary sources and then mapped to geographic locations with GIS. Includes county-level maps representing the study findings in South Carolina.
Author(s): Duaa Aljabri
Citation: Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 15, 689-704
Date: 04/2022
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Environmental Data and Methods from the Accumulating Data to Optimally Predict Obesity Treatment (Adopt) Core Measures Environmental Working Group
Describes available datasets on walkability, neighborhood deprivation, urbanicity, personal safety, and food environment in relationship to weight loss interventions. Utilizes both rural-urban commuting areas (RUCA) codes and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) urban/rural locale definitions to disaggregate the data.
Additional links: Data Files
Author(s): Beth A. Slotman, David G. Stinchcomb, Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, et al.
Citation: Data in Brief, 41
Date: 04/2022
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Treatment-Seeking Families with Children with Overweight or Obesity
Presents results of a May 2020 survey on parental stress, personal well-being, and family health behaviors during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes data from 77 rural Kansas parents whose children were participants in a 2nd to 4th grade pediatric obesity intervention.
Author(s): Bethany Forseth, Kelsey M. Dean, Megan Murray, et al.
Citation: Children's Health Care, 51(3), 300-315
Date: 03/2022
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Black/White Disparities in Obesity Widen with Increasing Rurality: Evidence from a National Survey
Analyzes Black/White disparities in obesity, diabetes, and lack of physical activity, with breakdowns by county-level rurality quintile. Utilizes data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Author(s): Steven A. Cohen, Caitlin C. Nash, Erin N. Byrne, Lauren E. Mitchell, Mary L. Greaney
Citation: Health Equity, 6(1), 178-188
Date: 03/2022
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The Impact of a Grocery Store Closure in One Rural Highly Obese Appalachian Community on Shopping Behavior and Dietary Intake
Results of telephone surveys of people in Martin County, Kentucky, a highly obese community in which healthy food accessibility is scarce and which experienced the closure of a local grocery store in January 2020. Includes demographics for the participants, and compares their food shopping habits at the time of the initial contact with those at the time of a follow-up survey a year later.
Author(s): Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Stacey Slone, Kathryn Cardarelli, Alison Gustafson
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3506
Date: 03/2022
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Weight Outcomes of NU-HOME: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Prevent Obesity among Rural Children
Reports on impacts of the NU-HOME collaborative for prevention of childhood obesity in rural children, based on data from 114 parent-child pairs in Minnesota. Explores demographic characteristics, food insecurity, and quality of meals of the participants, among other data points. Discusses the effect of family-level interventions on overweight/obesity status, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat.
Author(s): Jayne A. Fulkerson, Melissa Horning, Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19, 29
Date: 03/2022
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Rural Children's Health and Health Care
Examines differences in child health conditions by rural and urban residency. Explores differences in use of preventative dental and medical services by poverty rate, adverse childhood experiences, overweight and obesity, food insecurity, and physical activity.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
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A Profile of Migrant Health: 2020 Uniform Data System Analysis
Analyzes the demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics of migrants from community and migrant health centers that receive funding through the U.S. Public Health Service Act, Section 330. Discusses common conditions faced by migrants, including COVID-19.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Farmworker Health
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Health-Related Behavioral Risk Factors and Obesity Among American Indians and Alaska Natives of the United States: Assessing Variations by Indian Health Service Region
Study examining behavioral risk factors and obesity in American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) based on 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Investigates rates of current cigarette smoking, heavy drinking, binge drinking, and physical activity, analyzing disparities in AI/AN and other populations.
Author(s): Guixiang Zhao, Jason Hsia, Alexander Vigo-Valentín, William S. Garvin, Machell Town
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210298
Date: 01/2022
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Chronic Diseases and Associated Risk Factors Among Adults in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
Highlights a study on the prevalence of chronic diseases in Puerto Rico before Hurricane Maria and the level of support available to patients before and after the storm. Bases conclusions on 2 studies conducted in 2015 and 2019. Breaks down data by participant characteristics, such as age, employment, and rurality of residence, among other measures.
Author(s): Josiemer Mattei, Martha Tamez, June O'Neill, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2139986
Date: 01/2022
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