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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Obesity and weight control

Health Wanted: Finding Care in Rural America
Series of videos highlighting challenges with access to quality healthcare for rural Americans. Discusses healthcare access in remote locations, food insecurity and farming practices, transportation, wellness initiatives, and chronic health conditions in 5 states. Transcript available in video description.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organization: American Heart Association
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County Rurality and Incidence and Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes in the United States
Evaluates incidence and prevalence of diagnosed diabetes by rurality at the county level, utilizing 2004-2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Analyzes the impact of food environment, obesity, physical activity, and other sociodemographic factors on rural-urban differences in diabetes incidence and prevalence. Includes regional comparisons.
Author(s): Sagar B. Dugani, Brian D. Lahr, Hui Xie, et al.
Citation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 99(7), 1078-1090
Date: 03/2024
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Nutritional Guidance on Fitness Centers' Websites in Illinois: An Automated Content Analysis
Examines the nutritional content on fitness websites in Illinois as well as metro versus nonmetro statistics related to body mass index (BMI), diet, physical activity, and more.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 03/2024
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
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Produce Prescription Programs Offer 'A Holistic Approach' to Addressing Rural Food Insecurity and Diet-Related Disease
Features produce prescription programs serving rural Mississippi, New Mexico, and Vermont that are helping improve access to healthy foods for those with diet-related chronic conditions. Describes how produce Rx programs can support local food systems and discusses funding and sustainability considerations.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 01/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Validation of Remote Anthropometric Measurements in a Rural Randomized Pediatric Clinical Trial in Primary Care Settings
Evaluates the effectiveness of remote assessment of height and weight for rural children, providing comparisons of remote and in-person measurements of 33 caregiver-child pairs. Provides measurement data, assesses measurement reliability, and identifies factors associated with measurement discrepancies. Describes the significance of findings in context of obesity treatment.
Author(s): E Zhang, Ann M. Davis, Elizabeth Yakes Jiminez, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 14, 411
Date: 01/2024
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America's Health Rankings 2024 Health of Women and Children Report
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of the health of infants, children, and women of reproductive age. Compares rural-urban differences in mental health conditions, education, obesity, and smoking among reproductive-age women at the national level. Includes maps that show concentrated disadvantage by county within each state.
Additional links: Concentrated Disadvantage County-Level Maps, State Summaries
Date: 2024
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Gestational Weight Gain Among Urban and Rural Pregnant Individuals Who Smoke or Quit Smoking
Examines the relationship between smoking cessation and gestational weight gain (GWG). Utilizes 2009-2020 Virginia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data to analyze GWG and smoking in rural versus urban pregnant women.
Author(s): Kinsey Pebley, Asal Pilehvari, Rebecca A Krukowski, Melissa A Little
Citation: American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 66(5), 888-893
Date: 12/2023
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Tennessee Health Equity Plan, 2023-2028
Outlines strategies, timelines, and the steps to be taken to ensure equitable health services, meaningful partnerships, engaged communities, and a diverse, skilled workforce in Tennessee. Includes statistics on obesity with breakdowns by urban and rural areas, and maternal care and food deserts.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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2023 - 2028 Oklahoma State Health Improvement Plan
Offers an overview of Oklahoma resident health indicators and improvement goals with specific focus on social determinants of health, mental health, substance use, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Notes statewide resources and assets for each indicator. Includes a health inequity map at the census tract level.
Date: 12/2023
Sponsoring organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Developing a Culturally Relevant Physical Activity Guide for Alaska Native Head Start Students in Rural Alaska: The Got Neqpiaq? Study
Highlights a survey of Alaska Native Elders, teachers, and parents on cultural modifications to the Head Start preschool programs' physical playtime activities in tribal communities. Features a partnership between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Head Start, and the Rural Alaska Community Action Program. Details lessons learned from survey results on developing culturally competent physical education programming for Alaska Native preschoolers.
Author(s): Teresa Hicks, Barb Stillwater, Kathryn Koller, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 82(1), 2287791
Date: 11/2023
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