Obesity and Related Health Behaviors Among Urban and Rural Children in the United States: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 and 2005-2006

Objective To assess rates of overweight/obesity and related health behaviors among rural and urban children using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods Data were drawn from the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 NHANES surveys regarding demographic characteristics, weight status, dietary behaviors and physical activity behaviors. Results Significantly more rural children were found to be obese than urban children. Health behavior differences to explain this differential obesity rate were primarily not significant, but multivariate analyses indicate that for rural children meeting physical activity recommendations is protective and engaging in more than 2 hr/day of electronic entertainment promotes obesity. Conclusions There are modifiable health behavior differences between rural and urban children which may account for the significantly higher obesity rates among rural children.