Obesity and Weight Control Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What does it mean to be obese or overweight?
Answer:
Being obese or overweight means that you weigh too much for your height. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a weight-to-height ratio, and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. A BMI of 25 to 30 is considered overweight.
Question: How do you calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)?
Answer:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure for determining body weight relative to height. BMI can be used to determine if people are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. An online BMI Calculator is available from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
BMI-for-age calculations are used for children and teens, because appropriate body fat levels change as children grow. For more information, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's BMI - Body Mass Index: BMI for Children and Teens.
Question: How do rural areas compare to urban areas regarding obesity rates?
Answer:
Rural residents experience higher rates of obesity and overweight than people living in urban areas. Rural demographics may play some role in this difference. Rural residents tend to be older, less educated and have lower income than urban residents, and all of these factors are related to higher obesity levels. Even with other factors held equal, however, rural residents of every racial/ethnic group are at higher risk for obesity, according to the recent study on rural obesity, (Patterson, Moore, Probst & Shinogle. Obesity and Physical Activity in Rural America. Journal of Rural Health, Spring 2004, pp. 151-159).
Question: Are rural children at greater risk of obesity and overweight?
Answer:
Yes, according to the 2007 publication, Overweight
and Physical Inactivity among Rural Children Aged 10-17: A National
and State Portrait, rural children are more likely to be overweight
or obese than urban children. Children living in rural areas were also
found to be less physically active and less likely to participate in
afterschool sports than their counterparts in urban areas.
Question:
What are some factors contributing to rural obesity?
Answer:
Unhealthy diet is one culprit in the rural obesity problem. Rural residents in some areas eat a higher fat and calorie diet that the average American. People in rural areas are often faced with limited selection and higher cost for fresh fruit and vegetables than consumers in more urban areas. Due to distance and limited transportation options, shopping for healthy food can prove difficult for those living in areas not served by a major grocery chain. People in rural areas may also lack nutrition information that would help them to choose a healthier diet. Nutritionists tend to be less available in rural areas, and fewer school and community nutrition education opportunities exist, compared with what may be available in larger communities.
A lack of exercise also contributes to rural obesity. The popular image of active rural lifestyle is no longer accurate. Rural residents tend to be less physically active than urban residents. Some possible causes include less access to exercise facilities and fewer school physical education classes.
Rural areas may also face challenges in terms of the "built environment," which consists of buildings, sidewalks, parks and other physical aspects of a community. People who live in rural areas without sidewalks and public transport may find exercise as a part of daily activity and outdoor exercise to go places much more difficult.
Television viewing, which may be higher in rural youth, can contribute both to unhealthy diet and to a lack of physical activity.
Question: How does obesity impact health?
Answer:
Health care costs associated with obesity have been estimated at over $100 billion annually for the nation. Obesity increases the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. Overweight and obesity are associated with high cholesterol, pregnancy complications, and other negative health consequences. The higher rate of rural obesity may be a driving force behind the higher rural rates of chronic diseases that have been found in some studies.
Question: What are some of the negative social and economic effects of obesity?
Answer:
Obesity can result in discrimination and stigmatization. The overweight
and obese may find themselves characterized as unhealthy, weak or lazy.
People who are obese may experience negative consequences in the workplace,
at school, and even in receiving health care. For more information,
please see the Obesity Society's Obesity,
Bias, and Stigmatization.
Question: What can rural health care providers do to address obesity and overweight?
Answer:
Rural clinics and hospitals can offer classes that encourage healthy diet and exercise, such as sessions on nutrition, how to prevent heart disease, controlling diabetes, and similar topics. Hospitals that have exercise equipment for cardio/pulmonary rehabilitation may want to make their workout areas available to the entire community.
Primary health care providers can be a good resource for providing information on healthy diet and physical activity to their patients. Because rural areas often have limited access to nutritionists or dietitians, health care providers may benefit from additional training in nutrition. Primary care providers can also benefit from more training in behavioral and preventive sciences concepts and strategies to increase their skills and confidence in motivating patients to change unhealthy behaviors.
Question: How can local public health agencies help prevent obesity?
Answer:
Local public health agencies are most suited to developing community partnerships with schools, health care providers and community groups to ensure that exercise and healthy eating classes are being offered, schools and restaurants are offering low-fat and healthy choices, and to ensure the development of walking trails and bike paths for the entire community. Many local public health agencies have also become involved through policy development.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials provides examples of some of these activities.
Question:
What role can schools play in encouraging healthy weight?
Answer:
Schools can support healthy eating habits in children by offering nutritious, low-fat snacks and lunches and by teaching proper nutrition. Physical education programs are also important to ensure that children develop an active lifestyle.
The most effective school programs are comprehensive ones that address food service, physical education, classroom education in the importance of healthy lifestyles and health decision making, and include community/parent involvement.
The CATCH Program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is an example of a comprehensive obesity prevention program. For more information about coordinated school health programs, please see Making Health Academic.
School and community-based gardens are another good approach to encourage healthy eating. Students can benefit from growing their own fruits and vegetables and then consuming them in school and community-supported lunch programs.
Question:
What can rural communities do to help reduce obesity?
Answer:
Community walking clubs, support groups for weight management, healthy cooking and exercise classes are just a few possibilities for supporting healthy weight throughout the community.
Rural communities may want to develop a wellness center, bike trails, or walking paths to encourage healthy lifestyles. Facilities may already exist in some rural communities that could become community resources. For example, a local college might open its pool to community swimming and exercise classes or a school gymnasium might be open after-hours for community use.
Credits
Last revised 02/13/2008
