Obesity Management Solutions in Rural Communities

AbstractPurpose of ReviewObesity is more common in rural than in urban areas. The disparities in body mass index (BMI) may be due to growing socioeconomic disparities in rural communities, including limited healthcare infrastructure, lack of access to healthy and affordable food, transportation barriers, financial insecurity, lower educational attainment, and barriers to physical activity. To address these issues, obesity management models are needed in rural areas to promote and sustain weight loss. Obesity interventions for rural populations published in the last 5  years are included in this review.Recent FindingsRecent clinical trials report improvements in nutrition knowledge, physical activity, reduced energy consumption, and weight loss in rural populations. Three elementary school-based interventions implemented nutrition, physical activity, or a nutrition plus physical activity interventions ranging in duration from 2  months to 3 years. These interventions observed improvements in nutrition knowledge, daily energy intake, and body mass index (BMI), such that the trial resulted in weight loss or prevented weight gain. Two school-based lunch interventions observed increases in fruit and vegetable intake, reducti ons in energy consumption, and decreases sugar and sodium intake. Two large cluster randomized controlled trials in the USA showed clinically significant weight loss could be achieved via different lifestyle intervention approaches. Similarly, a 1-year inte...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research