Obesity

Publications

Listed by publication date. You can also view these publications alphabetically.

2007

• Overweight and Physical Inactivity among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National and State Portrait
  Author(s): Jihong Liu, Kevin J. Bennett, Nusrat Harun, Xia Zheng, Janice C. Probst, Russell R. Pate
  Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children, Obesity
  Date: 05 / 2007
  Recent studies have found that the tide of child obesity is rising faster in rural communities in several states, including Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Michigan, West Virginia, and North Carolina. This report examines the presence of overweight and obesity among children in both rural and urban settings using the data from a recent national survey, the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). In 2003, 30.6% of children aged 10-17 years old were overweight, 14.8% of which were obese. Rural children (16.5%) were more likely to be obese than urban children (14.4%). Executive summary available online.
• Overweight and Physical Inactivity among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National and State Portrait (Fact Sheet)
  Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children, Obesity
  Date: 2007
  Brief overview obesity and overweight, physical activity, and weight-related behaviors among rural and urban children.

2005

• National Study of Obesity Prevalence and Trends by Type of Rural County
  Author(s): J. Elizabeth Jackson, Mark P. Doescher, Anthony F. Jerant, L. Gary Hart
  Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Obesity
  Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 21(2), 140-148
  Date: 2005
  To estimate the prevalence of and recent trends in obesity among US adults residing in rural locations, the authors analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 1994-1996 and 2000-2001and found that in 2000-2001 the prevalence of obesity was 23.0% for rural adults and 20.5% for their urban counterparts, representing increases of 4.8% and 5.5%, respectively, since 1994-1996. The highest obesity prevalence occurred in rural counties in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; obesity prevalence increased for rural residents in all states but Florida over the study period. African Americans had the highest obesity prevalence of any group, up to 31.4% in rural counties adjacent to urban counties.
• Trends in Professional Advice to Lose Weight Among Obese Adults, 1994-2000
  Author(s): J. Elizabeth Jackson, Mark P. Doescher, Barry G. Saver, L. Gary Hart
  Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Obesity
  Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 20(9), 814-8
  Date: 2005
  The authors studied whether rising obesity prevalence in the U.S. was accompanied by an increasing trend in professional advice to lose weight among obese adults, and found that disparities in professional advice to lose weight associated with income and educational attainment increased from 1994 to 2000. They concluded that there is a need for mechanisms that allow health care professionals to devote sufficient attention to weight control and to link with evidence-based weight loss interventions, especially those that target groups most at risk for obesity

2004

• Obesity Prevalence In Rural Counties: A National Study
  Author(s): J. Elizabeth Jackson, Mark P. Doescher, Anthony F. Jerant, L. Gary Hart
  Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Obesity, Rural statistics and demographics
  Report Number: Working Paper No. 87
  Date: 01 / 2004
  Using a random-digit telephone survey of adults aged 18 and older residing in states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 1994-96 and 2000-2001, researchers found that the prevalence of obesity was 23 percent for rural adults and 20.5 percent for urban adults. This finding represents increases of 4.8 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. The highest obesity prevalence occurred in rural counties of Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana. Only Rhode Island and Colorado had rural counties that met the Healthy People 2010 goal of a maximum of 15 percent obese for adults. Report available on request.

2002

• Hypertension, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Weight, and Weight Control Activities Among Non Metro Minority Adults
  Author(s): P. Daniel Patterson, Charity G. Moore, Janice C. Probst, Michael E. Samuels
  Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Health disparities, Minority health, Obesity
  Date: 12 / 2002
  The 1998 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) included a detailed examination of preventive health problems and behaviors. This report uses data from the 1998 NHIS to examine the prevalence of selected problems among rural populations, with an emphasis on rural minorities. ?Rural? was defined, following NHIS guidelines, as living in a non-MSA county.