Examining the Nexus of Obesity, Mental Health and Rural County Level Food Access: Testing the Enduring Role of Persistent Poverty

Ralston, Margaret; Johnson, Kecia R.; Hossfeld, Leslie; Beech, Bettina M.

doi:10.15453/0191-5096.4128

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

2019

DOI: 10.15453/0191-5096.4128

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Examining the Nexus of Obesity, Mental Health and Rural County Level Food Access: Testing the Enduring Role of Persistent Poverty

Margaret Ralston¹,

Kecia R. Johnson²,

Leslie Hossfeld³

et al.

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“…10 Lack of access to healthy foods can influence food insecurity and, thus, affect population mental health outcomes. 11 For example, a study of 160 countries found that relative food insecurity was related to more mental health symptoms and lower well-being and life satisfaction. 12 Both obesity and mental illness are chronic conditions and burden public health systems.…”

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“…Current research suggests that, compared with urban residents, rural residents face more health disparities, 21,22 receive fewer medical services, 5 and live in higher-poverty areas. 11,[23][24][25] Hence, such geographical identification can potentially convince policy makers to develop targeted health interventions. We also introduce political ideology at the state level as an important variable that potentially influences county-level policies, which could affect health access and outcomes.…”

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Examining the Connection Between Health Outcomes, State Political Ideology, and Food Access in the United States

Samudra

Heboyan

2023

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

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Objectives: To estimate the impact of county-level income, access to food, availability of health resources, socioeconomic factors, and state political ideology on population obesity and mental health in US counties. Design: We compiled a county-level data set from the US Census, County Health Rankings, USDA Food Environment Atlas, the American Community Survey, and the State Ideology Database. We specify 2 multivariable regression models for county-level obesity rate and per capita poor mental health days and control for rurality, food access, income, availability of health care resources, state political ideology, and socioeconomic characteristics. Results: We find that higher food access reduces obesity in counties; an increase in per capita full-service restaurants by 1 unit is associated with reduction in obesity rate by 1.24 points and an increase in per capita grocery stores reduces poor mental health days by 0.14. We also find that counties in liberal-leaning states tend to have lower obesity rates. Access to primary care providers (increase in primary care physicians by 1 is associated with decline in obesity rate by 1.18 points and poor mental health days by 0.11 days), and recreational facilities (increase in recreational facilities per 1000 by 1 is associated with reduction in obesity rate by 3.16 points and poor mental health days by 0.47 days) reduces obesity rates and poor mental health days. Median income is associated with decrease in obesity rate and poor mental health days. Increase in median household income by 1% is associated with reduction in obesity rate 4.75% and reduction in poor mental health days by 1.39 days. Conclusions: We find that access to food and health care at county level and state ideology through policy making affects health outcomes. Our analysis indicates that counties can improve access to food and health care by investing in these services thereby improving county-level health outcomes and save dollars in the process.

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Examining the Connection Between Health Outcomes, State Political Ideology, and Food Access in the United States

Samudra

Heboyan

2023

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

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A county-level analysis of unemployment and mental health in the Southeastern U.S.: applying a social determinants of health framework

Wang

Smith

2022

Social Work in Mental Health

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Examining the Nexus of Obesity, Mental Health and Rural County Level Food Access: Testing the Enduring Role of Persistent Poverty

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Examining the Connection Between Health Outcomes, State Political Ideology, and Food Access in the United States

Examining the Connection Between Health Outcomes, State Political Ideology, and Food Access in the United States

A county-level analysis of unemployment and mental health in the Southeastern U.S.: applying a social determinants of health framework

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