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Rural Americans becoming less fit and more obese than city-dwellers
By Lisa Munger
lisa.munger@theindependent.com
Rural people were once better off in terms of physical activity, nutrition and weight than urbanites.
However, according to a recent report released by the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, rural residents now fare worse than their urban counterparts in regard to obesity rates — the opposite of what existed prior to 1980.
The Center for Rural Affairs, with Joe Blankenau, a professor of political science at Wayne State College, has evaluated a number of health care issues in rural Nebraska.
The report was the first in a series of reports to analyze available research relating to nutrition, physical activity and obesity and their impact on the health of rural residents relative to their urban counterparts both in Nebraska and nationally.
The urgency of the report’s information might come as a surprise to rural residents, since obesity is second only to tobacco as a cause of death in the United States and might soon overtake tobacco, say researchers.
The report included several key findings:
— Exercise — 40 years ago, half of all students walked or bicycled to school; today, less than 15 percent do.
— Employment — Fewer rural residents are employed in rigorous occupations such as farming, forestry and fishing than in the past.
— Availability — Rural residents have limited access to healthy food choices.
— Demographics — Rural residents are older, less educated and poorer than urban residents — all factors that contribute to increased obesity.
“As the new administration and the new Congress begin to debate health care reform, they need to keep in mind that the best long-term way to reform the health care system is to help create healthier people and healthier communities,” said Jon Bailey with the Center for Rural Affairs.
The report comes as the center prepares to share signatures and comments gathered from an online petition calling on President Barack Obama’s administration to address what they describe as “failing health care policies.”
“Everyone has a stake in creating a healthier society and everyone has responsibility to do so,” Bailey said. “Rural people and rural communities have significant health and wellness challenges. Public policy can help promote health and wellness, but each person, each family and each community in rural America has responsibility to create a healthier rural America.”
According to the report, more sedentary lifestyles have affected rural residents, as fewer people farm and engage in rigorous physical activity during their workdays.
“Most job creation in rural areas has been in ‘consumer services,’ which generally requires much less physical activity than traditional rural occupations,” said Blankenau. “People in rural areas struggle with finding the time to exercise and prepare nutritious meals.”
Additional reports exploring a variety of rural health care issues and policy issues, including how congressional reform proposals address rural health care, are expected to come in the following weeks.
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However, according to a recent report released by the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, rural residents now fare worse than their urban counterparts in regard to obesity rates — the opposite of what existed prior to 1980.
The Center for Rural Affairs, with Joe Blankenau, a professor of political science at Wayne State College, has evaluated a number of health care issues in rural Nebraska.
The urgency of the report’s information might come as a surprise to rural residents, since obesity is second only to tobacco as a cause of death in the United States and might soon overtake tobacco, say researchers.
The report included several key findings:
— Exercise — 40 years ago, half of all students walked or bicycled to school; today, less than 15 percent do.
— Employment — Fewer rural residents are employed in rigorous occupations such as farming, forestry and fishing than in the past.
— Availability — Rural residents have limited access to healthy food choices.
— Demographics — Rural residents are older, less educated and poorer than urban residents — all factors that contribute to increased obesity.
“As the new administration and the new Congress begin to debate health care reform, they need to keep in mind that the best long-term way to reform the health care system is to help create healthier people and healthier communities,” said Jon Bailey with the Center for Rural Affairs.
The report comes as the center prepares to share signatures and comments gathered from an online petition calling on President Barack Obama’s administration to address what they describe as “failing health care policies.”
“Everyone has a stake in creating a healthier society and everyone has responsibility to do so,” Bailey said. “Rural people and rural communities have significant health and wellness challenges. Public policy can help promote health and wellness, but each person, each family and each community in rural America has responsibility to create a healthier rural America.”
According to the report, more sedentary lifestyles have affected rural residents, as fewer people farm and engage in rigorous physical activity during their workdays.
“Most job creation in rural areas has been in ‘consumer services,’ which generally requires much less physical activity than traditional rural occupations,” said Blankenau. “People in rural areas struggle with finding the time to exercise and prepare nutritious meals.”
Additional reports exploring a variety of rural health care issues and policy issues, including how congressional reform proposals address rural health care, are expected to come in the following weeks.
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Krazy K wrote on Jan 27, 2009 7:09 PM: