Culture
How to Market Healthy Food in a Rural Town
A new study illustrates the unique challenges and opportunities of healthy eating campaigns in rural communities.
Obesity is a nationwide epidemic, but it hits some communities in the U.S. harder than others. Rural areas have significantly higher rates of obesity compared to urban ones, which likely contributes to their higher rates of chronic disease.
You wouldn’t know this, though, from the share of public health research devoted to improving diet quality in rural areas. Most healthy eating interventions have taken place in urban settings. Now a new study of a healthy eating initiative in rural Waupaca, Wisconsin—population 6,000—highlights the need for greater attention to, and targeted solutions for, these farther-flung communities.