Rural Obesity and Weight Control – Resources

Addressing Structural Racism, Bias, and Health Communication as Foundational Drivers of Obesity: Proceedings of a Workshop Series
Presents proceedings from a 2021 workshop series on issues related to obesity such as structural racism, stigma, weight bias, health communication, and potential data-driven solutions. Includes strategies for developing positive interactions with diverse populations as well as information specific to tribal areas.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Food and Nutrition Board
Date: 2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details

Quantifying the Food and Physical Activity Environments in Rural, High Obesity Communities
Results of a study to assess the nutrition and physical activity environments in rural South Dakota communities with high rates of obesity, to understand whether there are common strengths and challenges that emerge across communities. Features a comparison of availability of various healthful food options between grocery and convenience stores and pricing for healthful vs. regular food options in grocery stores and convenience stores.
Author(s): Lacey A. McCormack, Jessica R. Meendering, Linda Burdette, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13344
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
view details

Scaling a Community-Wide Campaign Intervention to Manage Hypertension and Weight Loss
Analysis of a public health intervention addressing hypertension and obesity among low-income Latino populations in the U.S.-Mexico border region in Texas. Discusses the impacts of the intervention in 10 cities and large metro areas, 2 small towns, and 6 rural areas and examines data using the RE-AIM Framework.
Author(s): Belinda M. Reininger, Lisa A. Mitchell-Bennett, MinJae Lee, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Medicine, 8, 661353
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
view details

Family-Focused Obesity Prevention Program Implementation in Urban Versus Rural Communities: A Case Study
Compares a rural childhood obesity prevention and reduction program with a similar urban program in Minnesota. Identifies logistical challenges encountered when adapting the urban program to a rural setting and discusses strategies to successfully translate obesity programs from urban to rural settings.
Author(s): Colleen Flattum, Sarah Friend, Melissa Horning, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 21, 1915
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
view details

Packaging of a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention and Implementation Blueprint for Rural and Micropolitan Communities: The Nebraska CORD 3.0 Project
Presents an outcomes-centered approach to pediatric weight management interventions (PWMIs) to translate urban PWMIs to micropolitan and rural communities. Includes charts, graphs, and screenshots that highlight interventions, adaptations, and resources that feature the outcomes-centered approach.
Author(s): Kate A. Heelan, Bryce M. Abbey, Roderick T. Bartee, et al.
Citation: Childhood Obesity, 17(1), 62-69
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details

Physical Activity Barriers and Assets in Rural Appalachian Kentucky: A Mixed-Methods Study
Study examining barriers, resources, and community support for physical activity to address obesity in rural Appalachia, focusing on Martin County, Kentucky. Describes data related to physical activity, social determinants of health, and physical environment for a cohort of 152 people and 34 focus group participants.
Author(s): Natalie Jones, Dierdre Dlugonski, Rachel Gillespie, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7646
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
view details

Community-Based Efforts Aim to Improve the Food Environment within a Highly Obese Rural Appalachian County
Discusses efforts to improve nutrition of rural Appalachian citizens through community-developed marketing strategies. Examines statistical differences in food purchases at 5 Kentucky gas stations before and after healthier options were noted on station shelves via a "Smart Snack" logo.
Author(s): Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Brynnan Dunnaway, Alison Gustafson
Citation: Nutrients, 13(7), 2200
Date: 06/2021
Type: Document
view details

Effect of Behavioral Therapy With In-Clinic or Telephone Group Visits vs In-Clinic Individual Visits on Weight Loss Among Patients With Obesity in Rural Clinical Practice
Examines the difference in weight loss improvements between in-clinic group or telephone visits and in-clinic individual visits. Utilizes data from 1,407 participants visiting 36 primary care practices in the rural Midwestern U.S. and includes descriptive statistics broken down by age, sex, rurality, weight and body mass index, race and ethnicity, and education, among others.
Author(s): Christie A. Befort, Jeffrey J. VanWormer, Cyrus Desouza
Citation: JAMA, 325(4), 363-372
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
view details

NRHA Policy Paper: Rural Obesity
Policy position paper examining rural-urban differences in obesity prevalence, obesity as a factor in health disparities, differences in weight-related behaviors, and social determinants of health influencing rural obesity. Offers strategies and policy recommendations to address rural obesity.
Author(s): Demetrius Abshire, Cassity Gutierrez
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
view details

Effect of Telehealth Extended Care for Maintenance of Weight Loss in Rural US Communities: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Evaluates the effectiveness of obesity management programs conducted from 2013-2018 by telephone or email for participants in 14 rural Florida counties. Includes demographics and statistics on weight loss with breakdowns by method of remote counseling.
Author(s): Michael G. Perri, Meena N. Shankar, Michael J. Daniels, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(6)
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
view details