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Rural Active Living: A Call to Action 2.0, 10-Year Review and Recommendations to Advance the Field
M Renée Umstattd Meyer1, Marilyn E Wende, Jessica Stroope
1Author Affiliations: Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas (Dr Umstattd Meyer and Ms Needham-Arnold); Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (Dr Wende); School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana / Louisiana State University AgCenter, Southeast Region, Hammond, Louisiana (Dr Stroope); Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Family & Community Health Unit, College Station, Texas (Dr Kellstedt); School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California (Dr Johnson); Department of Preventive Medicine, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi (Dr Gamble); Department of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (Dr. Edwards); School of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri (Dr Beck); Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Implementation Science, Department of Epidemiology & Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Dr Moore); Department of Biobehavioral Health & Nursing Science, University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Columbia, South Carolina (Dr Abshire); Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Mr Anderson III); Department of Health Management and Policy, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire (Dr Aytur); Center for Nutrition & Health Impact, Omaha, Nebraska (Dr Balis); Department of Human Performance and Health, College of Education, Human Performance, and Health, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, South Carolina (Dr Davis); West Virginia University Extension, Morgantown, West Virginia (Ms Gabbert, Dr Abildso); Department of Epidemiology, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana (Dr Gustat); School of Exercise, Sport, & Health Sciences, College of Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (Dr John); Department of Orthopaedics and Division of Physical Therapy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia (Dr Maruca); Parks, Recreation, Tourism Management Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina (Ms King); Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas (Ms Needham-Arnold); Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Dr Orzech); Department of Health & Wellness Design, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana (Dr Pickett); Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Dr Rhoades); Safe Routes Partnership, Fairfax, Virginia (Dr Riveron); Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program, School of Pharmacy, Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin (Dr Slater); Department of Leadership, Management, and Human Capital, School of Business and Economics, National University, San Diego, California (Dr Smock); Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana (Dr Villwock-Witte); University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Dr Wilson); Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia (Dr Baskin); and School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (Dr Perry).
Rural active living research has progressed, but more data is needed for effective physical activity (PA) interventions in rural communities. Emerging research areas include best practices, social issues, and funding impacts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Rural Health
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- A decade ago, the "Rural Active Living: A Call to Action" report outlined recommendations for rural physical activity (PA).
- Rural populations face a disproportionate burden of PA-related chronic diseases.
- This review revisits the original recommendations to assess progress and identify future research needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reassess the evidence base for the 8 original "Rural Active Living" calls to action.
- To summarize advancements in rural active living research and practice.
- To identify emerging research areas for rural physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Leveraged expertise from the CDC-funded Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network Rural Active Living Workgroup.
- Conducted a literature review of studies published since the original call to action.
- Formed expert teams to review literature, synthesize findings, and develop future research recommendations for each of the 8 calls to action.
Main Results:
- Progress in rural active living research and practice is evident across several original calls to action.
- A persistent need exists for rural-specific national surveillance data at granular geographic levels (census tract, block group).
- Six emerging research areas are identified: best practices, social issues, COVID-19 impacts, collaboration, implementation science, and funding changes.
Conclusions:
- Strategies are recommended to advance rural active living based on progress since the original call to action.
- Emerging focus areas for future research and practice in rural active living are highlighted.
- Continued efforts are needed to address the unique challenges and opportunities in promoting physical activity in rural settings.
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