Urban-rural differences in overweight status and physical inactivity among US children aged 10-17 years

J Rural Health. 2008 Fall;24(4):407-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2008.00188.x.

Abstract

Context: Few studies have examined the prevalence of overweight status and physical inactivity among children and adolescents living in rural America.

Purpose: We examined urban and rural differences in the prevalence of overweight status and physical inactivity among US children.

Methods: Data were drawn from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, restricted to children aged 10-17 (unweighted N = 47,757). Overweight status was defined as the gender- and age-specific body mass index (BMI) values at or above the 95th percentile. Physical inactivity was defined using parentally reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity leisure-time physical activity lasting for at least 20 minutes/d on less than three days in the past week. The 2003 Urban Influence Codes were used to define rurality. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine urban/rural differences in overweight status and physical inactivity after adjusting for potential confounders.

Findings: Overweight status was more prevalent among rural (16.5%) than urban children (14.3%). After adjusting for covariates including physical activity, rural children had higher odds of being overweight than urban children (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.25). Minorities, children from families with lower socioeconomic status, and children living in the South experienced higher odds of being overweight. More urban children (29.1%) were physically inactive than rural children (25.2%) and this pattern remained after adjusting for covariates (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73-0.86).

Conclusions: The higher prevalence of overweight among rural children, despite modestly higher physical activity levels, calls for further research into effective intervention programs specifically tailored for rural children.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Child
  • Data Collection
  • Exercise*
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sex Distribution
  • Social Environment
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*