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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Physical activity

Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014
Offers detailed statistics on health conditions and behaviors for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population and for multiple and single-race NHPI populations, with comparisons to other racial groups and to the U.S. population as a whole. Topics covered include general health status, specific health conditions, disabilities, body mass index, physical activity, and substance use.
Author(s): Adena M. Galinsky, Carla E. Zelaya, Catherine Simile, Patricia M. Barnes
Citation: Vital and Health Statistics, 3(40)
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Living in Limbo: Latinas' Assessment of Lower Rio Grande Valley Colonias Communities
Highlights the activities conducted by promotoras during an intervention study using community asset mapping (CAM) to identify factors that may facilitate or create barriers to physical activity among Latina residents in the U.S.-Mexico border region of Texas.
Author(s): DeAnne K. Hilfinger Messias, Patricia A. Sharpe, Lulis del Castilo-Gonzalez, Laura Treviño, Deborah Parra-Medina
Citation: Public Health Nursing, 34(3), 267-275
Date: 05/2017
Type: Document
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Healthy Early Learning Project (HELP)
Features a video on the Healthy Early Learning Project (HELP), a physical activity and nutrition program offered at 9 preschool sites in 2 rural Kansas counties.
Date: 05/2017
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Geriatric Walking Clinic: Meeting Rural Veterans Where They Are
Presents a model for improving the physical wellness of older rural veterans. Discusses program and patient outcomes, as well as implementation considerations.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Health-Related Behaviors by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2013
Provides data on five self-reported health-related behaviors for residents of rural and urban areas. Behaviors include sufficient sleep, current nonsmoking, nondrinking or moderate drinking, maintaining normal body weight, and meeting aerobic leisure time physical activity recommendations. Includes data for each behavior for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas, as well as prevalence of 4-5 health behaviors by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Based on 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Kevin A. Matthews, Janet B. Croft, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(5), 1-8
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Impacts
Highlights programs in 6 rural counties to improve the health and well-being of children and families supported by the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative. Programs included the expansion of the early childhood care and education program, promotion of physical activity through the development of walking and biking routes, and improved accessibility to local foods and support for the local economy.
Date: 2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Luther College, Northeast Iowa Community College
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The Effect of a Weight Gain Prevention Intervention on Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity among Black Women: The Shape Program
Examines if an effective weight gain prevention intervention, called the Shape Program, increased moderate to vigorous physical activity among overweight or obese African American women in rural North Carolina. Includes participant characteristics for the initial and 12 month assessment by age, education, poverty level, marital status, number of children in the household, employment status, and more.
Author(s): Mary L. Greaney, Sandy Askew, Sherrie F. Wallington, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14, 139
Date: 2017
Type: Document
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Opportunities for Promoting Physical Activity in Rural Communities by Understanding the Interests and Values of Community Members
Describes the results of a telephone survey administered to 524 adults from 8 rural towns in southeastern Missouri to identify ways to improve rates of physical activity (PA). Includes individual characteristic data by percent trail utilization. Covers life pursuits and reasons for enjoying the trails from individuals who walk but do not meet the PA recommendations by level of enjoyment/importance.
Author(s): Thomas Park, Amy A. Eyler, Rachel G. Tabak, Cheryl Valko, Ross C. Brownson
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2017, 8608432
Date: 2017
Type: Document
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Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks
Provides resources and ideas on how to make current bicycle and pedestrian design appropriate for small towns and rural communities. Offers examples of project implementation and includes information on how mobility infrastructure can positively impact the health of rural citizens.
Author(s): Dana Dickman, Nick Falbo, Steve Durrant, et al.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Highway Administration
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Examining the Role of a Community Coalition in Facilitating Policy and Environmental Changes to Promote Physical Activity: The Case of Get Fit Kaua'i
Examines Get Fit Kauai, a community coalition that brought changes in built environment (BE) policies and infrastructure changes to rural Hawaii. Describes how the community coalition developed a theory to explain the process of the community coalition facilitating BE change to support physical activity.
Author(s): Lehua B. Choy, Jay E. Maddock, Beverley Brody, Katherine L. Richards, Kathryn L. Braun
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 6(4), 638-647
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
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