Rural Obesity and Weight Control – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Obesity and Weight Control.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Use of Small-Area Estimates to Describe County-Level Geographic Variation in Prevalence of Extreme Obesity among US Adults
Study examining the variability in prevalence of extreme obesity at the county level, using small-area estimation to pinpoint specific areas of high and low prevalence. Uses data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the U.S. Census Bureau to create county-level estimates for adults over 18 years of age. Discusses contrasting pictures of extreme obesity at a broad state level and at the county level, highlighting ranges of prevalence in select states and noting some areas of rural prevalence.
Author(s): Carrie W. Mills, Glen Johnson, Terry T. K. Huang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(5), e204289
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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Study examining the variability in prevalence of extreme obesity at the county level, using small-area estimation to pinpoint specific areas of high and low prevalence. Uses data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the U.S. Census Bureau to create county-level estimates for adults over 18 years of age. Discusses contrasting pictures of extreme obesity at a broad state level and at the county level, highlighting ranges of prevalence in select states and noting some areas of rural prevalence.
Author(s): Carrie W. Mills, Glen Johnson, Terry T. K. Huang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(5), e204289
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
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The High Obesity Program: Overview of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cooperative Extension Services Efforts to Address Obesity
Describes the implementation of the High Obesity Program, a program designed to expand access to healthy foods, increase opportunities for physical activity, and reduce obesity and related diseases in high-risk and predominantly rural communities. Efforts were supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cooperative Extension Service (CES).
Author(s): Ashleigh L. Murriel, Sahra Kahin, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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Describes the implementation of the High Obesity Program, a program designed to expand access to healthy foods, increase opportunities for physical activity, and reduce obesity and related diseases in high-risk and predominantly rural communities. Efforts were supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Cooperative Extension Service (CES).
Author(s): Ashleigh L. Murriel, Sahra Kahin, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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CDC High Obesity Program Collection
Special publication featuring articles from the Preventing Chronic Disease journal. Includes articles highlighting programs that address the high rates of obesity in rural communities across the U.S. Each study evaluates the methods and efficacy of the interventions and discusses their implications on public health more broadly.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Special publication featuring articles from the Preventing Chronic Disease journal. Includes articles highlighting programs that address the high rates of obesity in rural communities across the U.S. Each study evaluates the methods and efficacy of the interventions and discusses their implications on public health more broadly.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The High Obesity Program: A Collaboration Between Public Health and Cooperative Extension Services to Address Obesity
Describes the activities of Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas, also known as High Obesity Program (HOP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with land grant universities and local Cooperative Extension Offices. HOP was designed to implement evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity and nutrition in mostly rural communities with high rates of obesity to reduce obesity and prevent or control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Author(s): Sahra Kahin, Ashleigh Murriel, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole, Ruth Petersen
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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Describes the activities of Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas, also known as High Obesity Program (HOP), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with land grant universities and local Cooperative Extension Offices. HOP was designed to implement evidence-based strategies to improve physical activity and nutrition in mostly rural communities with high rates of obesity to reduce obesity and prevent or control diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Author(s): Sahra Kahin, Ashleigh Murriel, Anu Pejavara, Terrence O'Toole, Ruth Petersen
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 03/2020
Type: Document
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Addressing Obesity in Nebraska's Youth: Water Consumption in Schools
Report details an effort to promote water consumption as a replacement for sugary beverages in order to combat obesity in Nebraska schools. Highlights ways the state has increased access to water fountains and water bottle filling stations. Compares rates of obesity to other states for children and adults.
Author(s): Jon M. Bailey
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Report details an effort to promote water consumption as a replacement for sugary beverages in order to combat obesity in Nebraska schools. Highlights ways the state has increased access to water fountains and water bottle filling stations. Compares rates of obesity to other states for children and adults.
Author(s): Jon M. Bailey
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Development of a National Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index in the United States: Differences by Region and Rurality
Details the formation of a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI), which was used to identify rural, urban, and other geographic differences in environmental factors associated with obesity. Variables used to calculate COEI scores include availability of fast-food restaurants, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other related facilities; access to exercise opportunities; violent crime; walkability; and more. Includes county-level data on COEI scores across the U.S.
Author(s): Andrew Kaczynski, Jan Eberth, Ellen Stowe, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(83)
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Details the formation of a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI), which was used to identify rural, urban, and other geographic differences in environmental factors associated with obesity. Variables used to calculate COEI scores include availability of fast-food restaurants, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other related facilities; access to exercise opportunities; violent crime; walkability; and more. Includes county-level data on COEI scores across the U.S.
Author(s): Andrew Kaczynski, Jan Eberth, Ellen Stowe, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(83)
Date: 2020
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 6/3/2024