Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.4
Journals
IJERPH
Special Issues
Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas
ijerph-logo
Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences & Services".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 13563

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Leanne Brown

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Tamworth 2340, Australia
Interests: rural health; primary healthcare
Dr. Tracy Schumacher

E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor
Department of Rural Health, University of Newcastle, Tamworth, Australia
Interests: cardiovascular disease; dietary intake methodology; nutrition interventions; rural health
Dr. Laura Alston

E-Mail Website
Assistant Guest Editor
1. The Global Obesity Centre, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
2. Deakin Rural Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Interests: nutrition and dietetics; rural health; rural health services; food environments; cardiovascular disease and non-communicable diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Good nutrition is key to achieving positive health outcomes for rural populations across the globe. A range of geographical, environmental, and behavioral factors in rural communities have an impact on nutrition status. Compared to urban areas, rural communities have different food intakes, which may contribute to different patterns of health risk and chronic disease. Issues of over- or under-nutrition vary across populations and settings, requiring approaches that consider the rural or remote context. Across the globe, in some rural areas key nutrition issues are related to nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. Alternatively, other rural areas may have higher rates of overweight and obesity with an increased reliance on energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, with a number of complex contributing factors.

In rural areas, food access is often impacted by vast distances and environmental changes (such as droughts and floods), resulting in higher costs of optimal food choices. Health promotion and public health nutrition interventions or initiatives can provide opportunities to influence food environments and support changes in nutrition and dietary health. Improvements in dietary patterns and/or nutrient intakes can assist in preventing or limiting the development of chronic health problems. Health professionals and other key stakeholders can advocate for changes that optimize the food supply and create equitable food environments.

We are interested in papers that provide insights into nutrient intakes, dietary patterns, or relevant food-related behaviors of population groups living in rural and remote locations. Studies or initiatives that provide solutions to improvements in dietary intakes, the prevention of chronic disease, or demonstrate collaboration across sectors to address these public health nutrition issues are also of interest.

Dr. Leanne Brown
Dr. Tracy Schumacher
Dr. Laura Alston
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutrition
  • nutrient intake
  • food intake
  • food environments
  • diet
  • diet quality
  • health promotion
  • rural population
  • rural health
  • chronic disease
  • prevention

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 1602 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a Grocery Store Closure in One Rural Highly Obese Appalachian Community on Shopping Behavior and Dietary Intake
by Rachel Gillespie, Emily DeWitt, Stacey Slone, Kathryn Cardarelli and Alison Gustafson
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3506; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19063506 - 16 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2602
Abstract
Research has examined how the entry of grocery stores into neighborhoods influences dietary outcomes, yet limited evidence suggests a direct correlation between opening a store and changes in dietary intake. A factor that might influence individuals’ behavior more directly is the closing of [...] Read more.
Research has examined how the entry of grocery stores into neighborhoods influences dietary outcomes, yet limited evidence suggests a direct correlation between opening a store and changes in dietary intake. A factor that might influence individuals’ behavior more directly is the closing of a grocery store where residents shop. This study aims to examine how a grocery closure in a rural Appalachian high poverty county is associated with dietary intake. A cohort of n = 152 individuals were recruited to participate in a longitudinal study examining purchasing habits and dietary intake. At time point two, one year later, n = 74 individuals completed the survey via phone. Results indicate those that switched from shopping at a local grocery store to a supercenter significantly increased their dietary intake of fruit (0.2 ± 0.8), fruits and vegetables (1.4 ± 2.7), alcohol (grams) (17.3 ± 54.1), and tomato sauce (0.1 ± 0.3). A local grocery store closure was associated with a change in shopping behavior and dietary intake. Community-level interventions targeting dietary behaviors must account for neighborhood food environment influences, including grocery store availability. Policy aimed at improving food access in rural communities need to consider approaches to improving a variety of food venues with affordable healthy food, while addressing the evolving grocery shopping behaviors of consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 363 KiB  
Article
Characterizing the Health of Older Rural Australians Attending Rural Events: Implications for Future Health Promotion Opportunities
by Tracy L. Schumacher, Laura Alston, Luke Wakely, Rachel Latter, Kelly Squires, Susan Heaney and Leanne J. Brown
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 3011; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19053011 - 04 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1834
Abstract
This paper describes the health of older Australians (>65 years) attending rural events to inform health promotion interventions for rural populations. This cross-sectional study collected survey data and objective health measures between 2017 and 2020 at two events held in rural New South [...] Read more.
This paper describes the health of older Australians (>65 years) attending rural events to inform health promotion interventions for rural populations. This cross-sectional study collected survey data and objective health measures between 2017 and 2020 at two events held in rural New South Wales, Australia. Participants included in the analysis were adults > 65 years of age. Data included demographic and health information, anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist circumference), and dietary and physical activity data. A total of 256 people > 65 years participated. Our sample, which was mostly male (59.0%), contained people aged between 66 and 75 years (72.3%). Participants lived in either a large rural (34.0%) or small rural town (22.3%), with low levels of education (60.9% did not complete high school). Dietary quality was rated as below average. All but 17.2% of the participants reported having a health condition. The risk of a health condition was associated with increasing age, lower education, and higher waist circumference, but not remoteness. Rural events may provide an opportunity to access, engage with, and understand the health of older rural Australians, especially males. They may offer ideal contexts for health and nutrition promotion opportunities in rural areas where access to health professionals is limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas)
13 pages, 344 KiB  
Article
Policy Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Insecurity in Rural America: Evidence from Appalachia
by Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, Rachel H. Graham, Heather Norman-Burgdolf and Janet T. Mullins
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12792; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312792 - 04 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4828
Abstract
Rural communities are disproportionally affected by food insecurity, making them vulnerable to the consequences of supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While access to food was initially diminished due to food supply disruptions, little is known about the mechanisms through which federal [...] Read more.
Rural communities are disproportionally affected by food insecurity, making them vulnerable to the consequences of supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While access to food was initially diminished due to food supply disruptions, little is known about the mechanisms through which federal emergency assistance programs impacted food access in rural populations. Through a series of five focus groups in spring 2021, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky. Data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory Approach. Findings revealed the following four primary themes: food scarcity in grocery stores; expanded federal food assistance; expanded community food resources; and expanded home gardening. Participants provided details regarding the way increased federal assistance, especially expanded benefits within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, allowed them to purchase greater quantities of nutritious food. This study unveils the specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on one rural population, including the influence of some social determinants of health on food insecurity. Policymakers and stakeholders should recognize the layered protection of multiple federal emergency assistance programs against food insecurity and the potential for long-term population health promotion in rural areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas)
13 pages, 3281 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Rurality on Fruit and Vegetable Intake and BMI: Findings in Mississippi Are Not Consistent with Those at the National Level
by Danielle Fastring, Danielle Nadorff and Hilary DeShong
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 5021; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18095021 - 10 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2990
Abstract
Sixty percent of Americans have at least one chronic disease that is both diet-related and preventable. Those living in rural areas often experience a greater burden of disease than those who live near a city center. The purpose of this study is to [...] Read more.
Sixty percent of Americans have at least one chronic disease that is both diet-related and preventable. Those living in rural areas often experience a greater burden of disease than those who live near a city center. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of rurality on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and BMI. Additionally, the study compares national results to those in Mississippi, a state with an aging population, and high rates of poverty, rurality, poor diet, and obesity. Data utilized were from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. One-way analyses of covariance were performed to determine impact of rurality on nutritional intake and BMI, while controlling for age, income, education, race, and the presence of children in the home. At the national level, rurality had a significant impact on BMI, and the daily intake of fruit juice, fruits, dark green vegetables, French fries, potatoes, other vegetables, and total daily vegetable intake. BMI and nutritional intake of those living in Mississippi was significantly poorer than those living in other states. More research is needed to determine how to best facilitate access to healthy FVs for those living in rural communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Dietary Health Promotion in Rural Areas)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop