title: Rural and Remote Food Environments and Obesity.
abstract: Within most developed countries, rural residents are more likely to be obese and overweight compared to their urban counterparts. Studies of specific rural communities have found that the limited availability of healthy foods in the community and home as well as individual characteristics and preferences contribute to poor diet and overweight. The rural food environment is varied and may be affected by climate, regional and cultural preferences, transportation access, and remoteness among other factors. Given this diversity and the vulnerabilities of rural residents, who are more likely to have low-income, substandard housing or low educational attainment compared to their urban counterparts, policy and programmatic interventions should target specific needs and communities. This review will describe the rural community, home, and individual food environments and what is known about their roles in healthy eating.
authors.affiliation: Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, 432B Wishcamper Center, 34 Bedford Street, Portland, ME, 04104, USA. jlenardson@usm.maine.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lenardson
authors.affiliation: Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, 404G Wishcamper Center, 34 Bedford Street, Portland, ME, 04104, USA. ayousefian@usm.maine.edu.
authors.forename: Anush Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, 418 Wishcamper Center, 34 Bedford Street, Portland, ME, 04104, USA. davidh@usm.maine.edu.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartley
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class
keywords: Diet quality; Food environment; Obesity; Overweight; Rural