This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Obesity and weight control

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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
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
view details
Pharmaceuticalization of Obesity: Empirical Analysis of Metro and Nonmetro Populations, Cognitions and Behavior
Examines perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to obesity medications in metro and nonmetro areas. Utilizes 2023 data from Kaiser Family Foundation's Health Tracking Poll to analyze weight loss drug prescriptions across demographic groups.
Author(s): Adee Athiyaman
Date: 11/2023
Sponsoring organization: Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
view details
Active Iowa: Increasing Physical Activity in Iowa Communities Program - Manual of Implementation
Toolkit details the Active Iowa program and provides information and tools for implementing and evaluating similar programs aimed at promoting active lifestyles in rural communities. Presents the structure of Active Iowa and gives step-by-step guidance on planning and implementation. Features supplemental training videos and other programmatic materials on the toolkit landing page.
Additional links: Landing Page, Supplemental Training Videos
Author(s): Barbara Baquero, Natoshia M. Askelson, Edith Parker, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: University of Iowa Prevention Research Center for Rural Health
view details
Geographic Differences in the Magnitude of Black-White Disparities in Having Obesity
Compares the magnitude of Black-White obesity disparities in rural and urban areas with U.S. regional comparisons, utilizing data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Assesses rural-urban status by county-level Index of Relative Rurality quintile.
Author(s): Steven A. Cohen, Monique J. Brown, Furong Xu, Caitlin C. Nash, Mary L. Greaney
Citation: Obesity Science & Practice, 9(5), 516-528
Date: 10/2023
view details
Rural–Urban Differences in Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity, and Food Security Among Children and Adolescents
Examines the relationship among food security, physical activity, and overweight or obesity in rural and urban children. Analyzes 2019-2020 National Survey of Children's Health data of children aged 10-17 according to body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and food security, with data broken down by demographic variables and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Demetrius A. Abshire, Michael D. Wirth, Peiyin Hung, Gabriel A. Benavidez
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 10/2023
view details