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Cited by 253Obesity, Physical Activity, DietObesity and Health PracticesNutrition, Health and Food Behavior

A National Study of Obesity Prevalence and Trends by Type of Rural County

Jackson, J. Elizabeth, Doescher, Mark P., Jerant, Anthony F., Hart, L. Gary·2005·The Journal of Rural Health
DOI 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2005.tb00074.x
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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Context: Obesity is epidemic in the United States, but information on this trend by type of rural locale is limited. Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of and recent trends in obesity among US adults residing in rural locations. Methods: Analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for the years 1994–1996 (n = 342,055) and 2000–2001 (n = 385,384). The main outcome measure was obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30), as determined by calculating BMI from respondents' self‐reported height and weight. Results: In 2000–2001, the prevalence of obesity was 23.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.6%‐23.4%) for rural adults and 20.5% (95% CI 20.2%‐20.7%) for their urban counterparts, representing increases of 4.8% (95% CI 4.2%‐5.3%) and 5.5% (95% CI 5.1%‐5.9%), 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% (95% CI 29.1%‐33.6) in rural counties adjacent to urban counties. The largest difference in obesity prevalence between those with a college education compared with those without a high school diploma occurred in urban areas (18.4% [95% CI 17.9%‐18.9%] vs 23.5% [95% CI 22.5%‐24.5%], respectively); the smallest difference occurred in small, remote rural counties (20.3% [95% CI 18.7%‐21.9%] versus 22.3% [95% CI 20.7%‐24.0%], respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity is higher in rural counties than in urban counties; obesity affects some residents of rural counties disproportionately.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2005.tb00074.x

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  • Prior BRFSS and NHIS data showed higher obesity prevalence in rural compared to urban counties.

    “Data from the 2000–2001 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)5 and the 1997–1998 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)6 revealed higher obesity prevalence in rural compared to urban counties.”

    From Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults From Rural and Urban Areas of the United States: Findings From NHANES (2005‐2008) (2012) · cites this paper as [5]

  • The rural-urban difference in obesity prevalence observed with measured height and weight was larger than previously reported using self-reported data from NHIS and BRFSS.

    “Although a significant rural-urban difference in obesity prevalence has been previously reported using self-reported data from NHIS 1997–1998 and BRFSS 2000–2001 (20–23% and 18–20% for rural and urban, respectively),5,6 the difference in percentage points we observed with measured height and weight was larger (39.6% versus 33.4% for rural and urban, respectively).”

    From Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults From Rural and Urban Areas of the United States: Findings From NHANES (2005‐2008) (2012) · cites this paper as [5]

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Authors
Jackson, J. E., Doescher, M. P., Jerant, A. F., & Hart, L. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author
Jackson, J. Elizabeth
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Rural Health
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2005-03
Volume
21
Issue
2
Pages
140-148
ISSN
  • 0890-765X (ISSN-L)
  • 1748-0361
DOI
10.1111/j.1748-0361.2005.tb00074.x
OpenAlex
W2153030265
Cited by
253
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 31
FWCI
10.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 462 d)
Locations
  • The Journal of Rural Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Public Health Service (U1CRH00035-03)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Keywords
obesity prevalence, obesity trends, rural counties, urban-rural differences, body mass index, African Americans, educational attainment, rural health disparities, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Demography, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Rural Health, United States, Urban Health, Prevalence, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

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