Rural-Urban Variation in Weight Loss Recommendations Among US Older Adults with Arthritis and Obesity

Authors

Mary L. Greaney, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Steven Cohen, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Christie L. Ward-Ritacco, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Deborah Riebe, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2019

Abstract

Purpose: Weight loss is advantageous for individuals with obesity and arthritis. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine if there are differences by rural-urban status among older adults with these conditions who reported being advised by a health care provider to lose weight for arthritis or to ameliorate arthritis symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Respondents reported if they had been diagnosed with arthritis and if they received a provider weight loss recommendation (WLR). The analytic sample was limited to older adults aged 60–79 living in the five states that administered the examined BRFSS arthritis module who had body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m² and reported having arthritis (n = 2920). The respondent’s county of residence was linked to the corresponding county-level population density from the US Decennial Census to determine rural-urban status. A generalized linear model examined the association between receipt of a WLR and population density, controlling for demographics. Results: The sample was 83.6% white, 57.8% female, and 63.2% received a WLR. Respondents from more urban counties were more likely to receive a WLR (p value for trend <0.001). Additionally, older respondents, men, individuals with less than a high school education, and whites had a decreased likelihood of receiving a WLR. Conclusions: The analysis identified notable rural-urban differences with respondents in more urban counties being more likely to receive a WLR. Furthermore, there were differences in those who received a WLR by age, sex, and education. Reasons for these differences should be explored.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Greaney, M., Cohen, S., Ward-Ritacco, C., & Riebe, D. (2019). Rural-Urban Variation in Weight Loss Recommendations Among US Older Adults with Arthritis and Obesity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(6), 946. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16060946 Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16060946

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Comment

Christie L. Ward-Ritacco and Deborah Riebe are from the Department of Kinesiology.

Steven A. Cohen and Mary L. Greaney are from the Department of Health Studies.