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Cited by 185Nutrition, Health and Food BehaviorPhysical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Understanding barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living in rural communities

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Seguin, Rebecca, Connor, Leah, Nelson, Miriam, LaCroix, Andrea, Eldridge, Galen·2014·Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
DOI 10.1155/2014/146502PMC PMC4276670
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Abstract

Objective. Studies demonstrate that people’s food and physical activity (PA) environments influence behavior, yet research examining this in rural communities is limited.Methods. Focus groups of 8–15 women were conducted in rural communities in seven US states. Questions were designed to identify factors within residents’ food and PA environments they felt helped or hindered them from eating healthfully and being physically active.Results. Participants were aged 30–84 years; mean (SD) = 61 (14) (N=95). On average, communities had fewer than 5,000 residents. Limited time, social norms, and distances from or lack of exercise facilities were common PA barriers. Facilitators for PA included social support, dog walking, and availability of affordable facilities. Healthy eating barriers included the perception that healthy foods were too expensive; calorically dense large portion sizes served at family meals; and frequency of eating foods away from home, which were perceived as generally unhealthy. Healthy eating supports included culture/value around local food gathering (e.g., hunting and gardening) and preservation (e.g., canning and smoking). Friends and family were frequently identified as key influencers of eating and PA behavior.Conclusions. Targeting both social and built environment factors, particularly those unique to rural locales, may enhance support for healthy eating and PA behavior change interventions.

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  • This study found a psychological resistance manifest as aversion to foods considered healthy.

    “This study found a psychological resistance that manifest itself by an aversion to foods considered healthy − which are frequently associated with restrictive and unappealing diets in contrast to a preference for ultra-processed foods, which are often considered more palatable 37 , 38 .”

    From Healthy eating among people with type 2 diabetes in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study in primary health care (2026) · cites this paper as [38]

    The Results (§3.3; page unavailable) report difficulty changing long-standing cooking and eating habits, including one participant’s description of a mindset that was hard to change. They do not report an aversion to healthy foods, an association of healthy eating with restrictive or unappealing diets, or a preference for ultra-processed foods because they are more palatable. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Seguin, R., Connor, L., Nelson, M., LaCroix, A., & Eldridge, G.
Affiliations
  • Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
  • Cornell University (US)
  • Tufts University (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Montana State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2014
Volume
2014
Pages
1-8
ISSN
  • 2090-0724 (ISSN-L)
  • 2090-0732
DOI
10.1155/2014/146502
PMC
PMC4276670
OpenAlex
W2142176075
Cited by
185
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5
FWCI
5.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K01 HL108807)
  • Omidyar Foundation (K01 HL108807)
  • Brookdale Foundation (K01 HL108807)
  • Tisch College of Citizenship (K01 HL108807)
  • Public Service, Tufts University (K01 HL108807)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
healthy eating, physical activity, rural communities, built environment, social norms, social support, barriers and facilitators, food environment, portion size, food costs, eating out, food preservation, family meals, women

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