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.

2021

Estimates of Childhood Overweight and Obesity at the Region, State, and County Levels: A Multilevel Small Area Estimation Approach
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural 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
University of South Carolina Rural 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.
Spatial Clustering Patterns and Regional Variations for Food and Physical Activity Environments Across the United States
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural 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.

2015

Obesity and Obesity-Related Behaviors Among Rural and Urban Adults in the United States
Journal Article
University of South Carolina Rural 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.

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.