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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Physical activity

Rural-Urban Differences in Objective and Subjective Measures of Physical Activity: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006
Study focused on a nationally representative sample of micropolitan rural, nonmicropolitan rural, and urban adults aged 20-75 years. Compared amounts of time residents in each category spent in physical activities related to leisure, household activities, and transportation, with breakdowns by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, sex, and country of origin.
Author(s): Jessie X. Fan, Ming Wen, Lori Kowaleski-Jones
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 11
Date: 08/2014
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Get Out and Get Moving: Opportunities to Walk to School Through Remote Drop-Off Programs
Describes remote drop-off programs for students to walk to school. Discusses special considerations for establishing remote drop-off programs in rural school districts.
Author(s): Lisa A. Cirill, Kimberley Elliott, Justine Hearn, Tamara Lange
Date: 06/2014
Sponsoring organization: ChangeLab Solutions
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The StrongWomen Change Clubs: Engaging Residents to Catalyze Positive Change in Food and Physical Activity Environments
Overview of StrongWomen Change Clubs (SWCC), an organization developed through an academic-community research partnership to initiate changes to improve nutrition and physical activity environments for women in rural communities in seven states across the country.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Seguin, Sara C. Folta, Mackenzie Sehlke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2014, 162403
Date: 2014
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Improving the Physical Activity and Nutrition Environment Through Self-Assessment (NAP SACC) in Rural Area Child Care Centers in North Carolina
Presents results from a study designed to determine if rural child care centers in western North Carolina meet recommendations for nutrition and physical activity. Also examines whether focusing on nutrition and physical activity is effective in improving the center environment, and if differences exist between school-affiliated and unaffiliated care centers.
Author(s): Rebecca A. Battista, Hillary Oakley, Melissa S. Weddell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 67(S1), S10-S16
Date: 2014
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Local Wellness Policy 5 Years Later: Is It Making a Difference for Students in Low-Income, Rural Colorado Elementary Schools?
Assesses 45 schools' environmental and policy changes resulting from implementation of a federally mandated program designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating, as a response to the childhood obesity epidemic. Looked at factors including number of minutes of recess per week, minutes of physical education, playground features, total number of fruit and vegetable offerings at meals, presence of a school health team, and familiarity with their district's policy and related state or federal mandates.
Author(s): Elaine S. Belansky, Nick Cutforth, Lynn Gilbert, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 10
Date: 11/2013
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Rural-Urban Differences in Health Behaviors and Implications for Health Status Among U.S. Cancer Survivors
Examines health behavior differences among rural and urban cancer survivors in the U.S. Determines associations between self-reported health status and health-related unemployment and associations between health behaviors and health status. Includes rural versus urban information on marital status, race/ethnicity, education, cancer type, health insurance, employment, BMI, smoking habits, alcohol use, and physical activity.
Author(s): Kathryn E. Weaver, Nynikka Palmer, Lingyi Lu, L. Douglas Case, Ann M. Geiger
Citation: Cancer Causes and Control, 24(8), 1481-1490
Date: 08/2013
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Randomized Controlled Trial Targeting Obesity-Related Behaviors: Better Together Healthy Caswell County
Details a study utilizing community-based participatory research principles to determine the effectiveness of providing access to group fitness classes twice a week, with and without weekly nutrition and physical activity education sessions in rural North Carolina.
Author(s): Jamie Zoellner, Jennie L. Hill, Karissa Grier, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 10
Date: 06/2013
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Association Between Physical Activity and Insomnia Symptoms in Rural Communities of Southeastern Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas
Details a study on the effects of regular physical activity on rural women in Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas who suffer from insomnia. Uses data from the 4-year longitudinal study, Walk the Ozarks to Wellness (WOW) Project, as a basis for their findings. Discusses the role body weight and chronic disease play as factors within the framework of the study.
Author(s): Jen Jen Chang, Grace W. Pien, Katherine A. Stamatakis, Ross C. Brownson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 29(3), 239-247
Date: 06/2013
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A Church-Based Diet and Physical Activity Intervention for Rural, Lower Mississippi Delta African American Adults: Delta Body and Soul Effectiveness Study, 2010–2011
Study of 6-month-long interventions in 8 self-selected churches in 4 counties. Features statistics including sex, weight group, smoking status, employment, types of chronic disease and medication use, and levels of physical activity.
Author(s): Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Jessica L. Thomson, Tanyatta Mayo, Emanuel Edmond
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 10
Date: 06/2013
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Health Coaching Interventions With a Heart-Healthy Lenoir Project Client
Demonstrates how the Heart-Healthy Lenoir Project study to reduce the risk of heart disease integrated a personalized health coach to provide educational assistance and collaborate with primary care to help a client reduce their blood pressure and improve diet and physical activity.
Author(s): Jim Tillman
Citation: Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 2(3), 83-86
Date: 05/2013
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