Rural Obesity in the United States: Causes, Consequences, and a Need for Change

Abstract

. . . Glasgow et al. (2004) notes that “researchers have generally failed to investigate systemically whether the diet and obesity in rural areas differ from that in urban areas or to examine the impacts of rural/urban patterns in diet and health.” This paper focuses on previous research and the gaps between findings to find the best remedies and solution for the problem. The critical need for understanding rural obesity has reached levels of vital importance as health care reform takes center stage in America's focus. Michelle Obama and her “Let's Move” campaign have set up a platform to significantly reduce childhood obesity by 2015 during a very critical time in policy reform and has the ability to affect millions (Let's Move, 2010). However, these results cannot be achieved without careful consideration of each and every community in the United States and the way they impact obesity and poverty rates. Every aspect of rural obesity, from causes to its remedies, should be confined as a separate entity due to the unique nature of the contributing factor of rural communities in America. [From Introduction]