New Study Reveals Country Folks Are Fatter Than City Slickers

You would think that with all the hard work being done in small town America the people there would be among the fittest in the nation.

However, a new study suggests that is not the case.

Researchers have found that obesity is more prevalent in country folks than in city dwellers.

According to a national study recently published in the Journal of Rural Health, people who reside in rural, country areas are 20 percent more likely to suffer from obesity than those who live in the city.

The discovery shows that geographic location may have a significant impact on obesity.

Researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center say their collected data indicates higher obesity rates than in previous studies, with nearly 40 percent of rural Americans being classified as obese compared to their city-slicker counterparts at 33 percent.

Study authors say that while they have examined the weight of Americans in the past, this study is more accurate, since it includes broader details involving people’s height, as well.

So, who exactly is making up the fat of the land?

Surprisingly, young people between the ages of 20 and 39 are carrying around more extra weight than any other rural demographic, with black and Hispanic ethnic groups running more of a risk for obesity than Caucasians.

Researchers say that poor diet and lack of physical activity are the main contributors to rural obesity, with diets higher in fat being consumed more by those living in rural areas than by people who reside in the city.

Overall, the study found that people living in the country may suffer from higher obesity due to it being harder for them to purchase healthier foods and inability to get to a gym.

[ABC News]