OBJECTIVE: Despite studies suggesting that there is a higher prevalence of overweight or obese children in rural areas in the U.S., there are no national studies comparing the prevalence levels of overweight or obese rural to metropolitan children. The objective of this research was to examine the hypothesis that living in a rural area is a risk factor for children being overweight or obese. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Using the National Survey of Children's Heath, the prevalence of overweight and/or obese rural children was compared with that of children in metropolitan settings. Multivariate analyses were performed on the data to detect if differences varied by health services use factors or demographic factors, such as household income, gender, and race. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that overweight or obese children >or=5 years of age were more likely to live in rural rather than metropolitan areas (odds ratio = 1.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.248, 1.256). Rural overweight U.S. children >or=5 years of age of age were more likely than their metropolitan counterparts to: be white, live in households <or=200% of the federal poverty level, have no health insurance, have not received preventive health care in the past 12 months, be female, use a computer for non-school work >3 hours a day, and watch television for >3 hours a day. In addition, they were more likely to have comorbidities. DISCUSSION: Living in rural areas is a risk factor for children being overweight or obese.
OBJECTIVE: Despite studies suggesting that there is a higher prevalence of overweight or obesechildren in rural areas in the U.S., there are no national studies comparing the prevalence levels of overweight or obese rural to metropolitan children. The objective of this research was to examine the hypothesis that living in a rural area is a risk factor for children being overweight or obese. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Using the National Survey of Children's Heath, the prevalence of overweight and/or obese ruralchildren was compared with that of children in metropolitan settings. Multivariate analyses were performed on the data to detect if differences varied by health services use factors or demographic factors, such as household income, gender, and race. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed that overweight or obesechildren >or=5 years of age were more likely to live in rural rather than metropolitan areas (odds ratio = 1.252; 95% confidence interval, 1.248, 1.256). Rural overweight U.S. children >or=5 years of age of age were more likely than their metropolitan counterparts to: be white, live in households <or=200% of the federal poverty level, have no health insurance, have not received preventive health care in the past 12 months, be female, use a computer for non-school work >3 hours a day, and watch television for >3 hours a day. In addition, they were more likely to have comorbidities. DISCUSSION: Living in rural areas is a risk factor for children being overweight or obese.
Authors: David M Janicke; Bethany J Sallinen; Michael G Perri; Lesley D Lutes; Milagros Huerta; Janet H Silverstein; Babette Brumback Journal: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Date: 2008-12
Authors: David M Janicke; Bethany J Sallinen; Michael G Perri; Lesley D Lutes; Janet H Silverstein; Babette Brumback Journal: J Rural Health Date: 2009 Impact factor: 4.333
Authors: Juliana F W Cohen; Vivica I Kraak; Silvina F Choumenkovitch; Raymond R Hyatt; Christina D Economos Journal: J Acad Nutr Diet Date: 2013-10-11 Impact factor: 4.910
Authors: A M Adachi-Mejia; M R Longacre; M Skatrud-Mickelson; Z Li; L A Purvis; L J Titus; M L Beach; M A Dalton Journal: Public Health Date: 2013-03-15 Impact factor: 2.427