Health Behaviors in Rural America as a Public Health Issue

Key points

  • People living in rural areas in the U.S. are more likely than their urban counterparts to be at higher risk for certain diseases and health conditions.
  • Most chronic diseases can be prevented by eating well, being physically active, avoiding tobacco and excessive drinking, and getting regular health screenings.
Man Runs with Dog in the early morning

Overview

Americans are getting healthier overall. However, people living in rural areas are less likely than their urban counterparts to practice health behaviors that could protect them from getting sick with long-lasting diseases.

An image of a man, woman, and child walking through a grassy field towards some trees. Text over the image states, "15% of all Americans live in rural areas. Only 1 in 4 rural adults practice at least 4 of 5 health-related behaviors: - Not smoking - Maintaining normal body weight - Being active - Nondrinking or moderate drinking - Sufficient sleep. Practice health-related behaviors that can prevent chronic disease.
15% of all Americans live in rural areas.

A CDC report found that just 1 in 4 adults in rural areas do at least 4 of these healthy habits:

  • Not smoking
  • Maintaining healthy body weight
  • Staying active
  • Not drinking too much alcohol
  • Getting enough sleep

These healthy behaviors can help prevent chronic disease and improve quality of life.

Resources

What the Science Says - CDC MMWR Report

Reducing Potential Excess Deaths - CDC MMWR Commentary

Chronic Disease Prevention - More information from CDC

Smoking and Tobacco Use - More information from CDC

Physical Activity - More information from CDC

Healthy Weight - More information from CDC

Sleep - More information from CDC

Excessive Alcohol - More information from CDC

An image of the United States borders with images in the background. Text to the left states "RHIhub: Rural Health Information Hub. Your First STOP for Rural Health information. ruralhealthinfo.org.
Check out the Rural Health Information Hub webinar below.

Resource‎

The Mortality in Rural Areas: Insights from National Research and Community-Based Initiatives webinar from RHIhub highlights recent and ongoing analysis describing health differences between people in rural and urban areas.
Mortality in Rural Areas: Insights from National Research and Community-Based Initiatives
Print
Content Source:
Public Health Infrastructure Center