Rural Obesity and Weight Control – Resources

The State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Presents data on adult and childhood obesity rates, with breakdowns by state and select demographic characteristics. Examines current and emerging policies, provides funding opportunities, and outlines recommended policy actions. Includes a special feature about food environments and systems.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Madison West
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Examining Rurality and Social Determinants of Health among Women with GDM: A 15-Year Comprehensive Population Analysis
Examines maternal demographic characteristics, including rurality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) development over time. Utilizes birth record vital statistics of 589,605 women with live births in Kansas from 2005 to 2019. Compares rural and urban trends in maternal overweight, obesity, and GDM.
Author(s): Umama Ali, Laila Cure, Rhonda K. Lewis, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 24, 467
Date: 08/2024
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A Scoping Review of Policies to Encourage Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity among Rural People and Places in the United States
Scoping review of 122 studies, reports, and theses on breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity policy, systems, and environment change initiatives in rural areas. Analyzes source design, objectives, setting, focus, results, and more. Summarizes research findings and discusses data collection and sharing for rural initiatives.
Author(s): M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, Bailey Houghtaling, Marilyn E. Wende, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 2160
Date: 08/2024
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Community-Based Participatory Obesity Prevention Interventions in Rural Communities: A Scoping Review
Reviews 12 rural childhood obesity prevention studies which included a community-engaged research component. Analyzes study characteristics including type of intervention used, level of community engagement, outcome measurement, and more. Discusses the benefits of improved community engagement in obesity interventions for rural, school-aged children.
Author(s): Saagar Dhanjani, Haley Allen, Beatriz Varman, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 16(14), 2201
Date: 07/2024
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Social Induction via a Social Behavioral Intervention on Changes in Metabolic Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural Appalachia, United States
Examines the effects of a social network intervention on metabolic health in rural, Appalachian Kentucky. Presents data of 301 participants, including data on change in body weight, waist circumference, mean arterial blood pressure, and other cardiovascular and metabolic health indicators. Evaluates the relationship between social networks, health behaviors, and physical health outcomes.
Author(s): Eric L. Ding, Kathleen T. Watson, Leila Makarechi, et al.
Citation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 99(7), 1058-1077
Date: 07/2024
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Urban–Rural Disparities in Food Insecurity and Weight Status Among Children in the United States
Analyzes urban versus rural place of residence and its association with childhood food insecurity and weight status. Utilizes 2013-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and provides breakdowns of urban versus rural food insecurity by child's age and weight status, according to underweight/normal weight, overweight, and obese designations.
Author(s): Jayna M. Dave, Tzuan A. Chen, Alexandra N. Castro, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 16(13), 2132
Date: 07/2024
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Assessing How Alcohol Use Patterns Relate to Obesity among American Adolescents from Rural and Urban Areas: Five Years of Pooled Data
Analyzes the association between alcohol use and obesity among rural and urban adolescents aged 12-17. Utilizes 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data.
Author(s): Christian E. Vazquez, Fawn A. Brown, Faheem Ohri, Philip Baiden
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(6), e0305638
Date: 06/2024
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Listening to the Community: Identifying Obesity Prevention Strategies for Rural Preschool-Aged Children
Reports results from 4 workshops on obesity prevention initiatives for preschool-aged children in 2 rural North Carolina and Indiana counties. Provides data and discussion on participants' preferred intervention strategies and community settings, with additional discussion of implementation challenges and options for immediate interventions which could be implemented with limited funding.
Author(s): Katherine Jochim Pope, Alexandra F. Lightfoot, Lisa Macon Harrison, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12
Date: 05/2024
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Using a Customer Discovery Process to Enhance the Potential Dissemination and Scalability of a Family Healthy Weight Program for Rural Communities and Small Towns
Reports on factors influencing rural adoption of the Building Healthy Families Online Training Resources and Program Package, a family-based healthy weight program. Utilizes data from interviews with 47 individuals representing potential users, payers, and adoption influencers, including health departments, clinical healthcare providers, and community organizations. Includes discussion of organizational priorities, implementation challenges in clinical and community settings, and more.
Author(s): Gwenndolyn C. Porter, Jennie L. Hill, Kate A. Heelan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, 57
Date: 05/2024
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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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