Obesity

Research Products & Journal Articles

Browse the full list of research publications on this topic completed by the Rural Health Research Centers.

Products – Freely accessible products include policy briefs, fact sheets, full reports, chartbooks, and interactive data websites.

Journal Articles – Articles in peer-reviewed journals may require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library. For these publications, Gateway lists the article citation, a brief summary, a link to additional information and access to the full-text of the article, if available.

2023

Rural Healthy People 2030: Common Challenges, Rural Nuances
Policy Brief
Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2023
This study analyzes the most important Healthy People 2030 priorities for rural America. Data collected from a survey found mental health, substance use, health care access, and economic stability were among the most important priorities. This information could be used to accelerate health improvements in rural America.

2022

Rates and Trends of Childhood Overweight/Obesity in the United States and South Carolina
Fact Sheet
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 03/2022
The goal of this project was to estimate childhood overweight/obesity rates across the United States at the region, state, and county level.

2021

Cardiovascular & Cancer Rates for the Rural Delta Region: Rural Delta Region Map Tool
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Date: 08/2021
The Rural Delta Region Map Tool is an interactive tool that shows 13 health measures for people in Delta Region counties/parishes. It can be used to compare rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease by county, by rural-urban status, to peer counties, to the national average, and to national quartiles.
Estimates of Childhood Overweight and Obesity at the Region, State, and County Levels: A Multilevel Small Area Estimation Approach
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 06/2021
The goal of this study is to create a map of county-level obesity rates at the regional, county, and state levels.

2020

Development of a National Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index in the United States: Differences by Region and Rurality
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 07/2020
This study developed a novel childhood obesogenic environment index and highlighted important regional and rurality differences across U.S. counties.
Rural/Urban Disparities in the Utilization of Health and Behavioral Assessments/Interventions in the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population
Policy Brief
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 06/2020
Identifying behaviors that contribute to disease and modifying them can be an important step in treatment. This study investigated geographic disparities and the availability of Health and Behavioral Assessments and Interventions services in rural and urban areas by examining fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in 2012-2016.
Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Training to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population
Policy Brief
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 06/2020
Diabetes self-management training (DSMT) is recommended for all newly diagnosed patients with diabetes. However, the utilization rate of DSMT is low, and geographic disparities in availability exist. This study sought to identify the extent of the rural/urban disparity in the provision of DSMT to fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in 2012-2016.
Rural/Urban Disparities in Utilization of Medical Nutrition Therapy to the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population
Policy Brief
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 06/2020
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is important in the treatment of many chronic conditions, but the availability of MNT in rural versus urban communities has not been examined. This study sought to identify the availability of MNT in rural and urban communities by examining Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in 2012-2016.
Spatial Clustering Patterns and Regional Variations for Food and Physical Activity Environments Across the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 01/2020
This study examined spatial patterns of obesogenic environments for U.S. counties. We mapped the geographic dispersion of food and physical activity (PA) environments, assessed spatial clustering, and identified differences across regions and rurality categories. This study highlights geographic clustering and disparities in food and PA access.

2019

Development of a Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2019
The purposes of this study were to describe the development of a childhood obesogenic environment index and examine differences in obesogenic environment index values by rurality and region across the U.S.

2015

Obesity and Obesity-Related Behaviors Among Rural and Urban Adults in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 10/2015
Examines the differences in obesity-related behaviors across rural and urban adult populations in the United States. Data from the 1999 - 2006 National health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used.

2010

Diet, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors as Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity: An Urban and Rural Comparison (Final Report)
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 11/2010
Nearly 20% of the U.S. population resides in non-metropolitan areas, yet our knowledge about the prevalence of obesity in rural America is limited. Previous research found that rural children, paradoxically, were more likely to be overweight or obese and more likely to be physically active than urban children.
Diet, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors as Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity: An Urban and Rural Comparison (Fact Sheet)
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2010
This fact sheet reports that the prevalence of those who are overweight and obese is higher among rural children than their urban counterparts.

2007

Overweight and Physical Inactivity Among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National and State Portrait
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 05/2007
This report examines the issues of obesity and being overweight among children in rural and urban settings using the data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health.
Overweight and Physical Inactivity Among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National and State Portrait (Fact Sheet)
Fact Sheet
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 2007
This fact sheet offers a brief overview on the issues of obesity and being overweight, physical activity, and weight-related behaviors among rural and urban children.

2005

A National Study of Obesity Prevalence and Trends by Type of Rural County
Journal Article
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2005
Analyzes data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for 1994-1996 and 2000-2001 to estimate the recent trends in obesity among U.S. adults residing in rural locations. In 2000-2001 the prevalence of obesity was 23.0% for rural adults and 20.5% for urban, representing increases of 4.8% and 5.5%, respectively, since 1994-1996.
Trends in Professional Advice to Lose Weight Among Obese Adults, 1994-2000
Journal Article
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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 healthcare 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
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2004
Using a telephone survey of adults ages 18 and older residing in states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 1994-96 and 2000-01, researchers found that the prevalence of obesity was 23% for rural adults and 20.5% for urban adults.

2002

Hypertension, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Weight, and Weight Control Activities Among Non-Metro Minority Adults
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 12/2002
This report uses data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey to examine the prevalence of selected problems among rural populations, with an emphasis on rural minorities.