Why are obesity rates higher in rural America than in Cities? What are the best way to reduce those rates?

According to the Surgeon General, obesity rates in rural America are higher than those in urban areas. Anyone who has taken a cross-country road trip has seen this first hand. Do you have a productive public policy suggestion that may reduce obesity rates in rural America? All suggestions are welcome.

It may not seem obvious but the answer is because of economics. I'll explain in 2 parts:

The US economy has undergone several shifts. Early on it was primarilly agrarian based. With the industrial revolution this changed, and it became more consumer good based. And even now it is phasing out of that slowly into a more service based economy. During these changes, with the increase in machinery, it became more and more difficult to scrape out a living in the countryside as a farmer or in a support position to farmers(eg. a guy who runs the local store selling to farmers). The good paying jobs ended up being "in the city." And people moved to the city for those good paying jobs. This process actually makes life harder economically for the remaining rural population! And up to and through today people living in the rural areas of the US are generally in less well paying jobs while paying more for similar services and goods available in the city.

OK that was the first part. Now the second part.

So you have a real tight budget to pay for food to live upon. The simple fact of the matter is - fattening food is cheaper per amount than healthy food in most cases. And sure there may be seasonal things which are cheaper, but just go to a mcdonalds menu. You can buy a double cheeseburger for 1 dollar - or the non breaded chicken filet (about the same amount of sandwich)for like 3 dollars. Similarly, you can buy a few TV dinners for 1-2 bucks a piece, or you can buy the raw chicken, instant mashed potatoes, and corn, etc. at a cost factor of maybe 1.5 to 2 times as much as the TV dinners. (not even thinking about cooking/preparing time involved)

So it all comes down to simple economics - whether you have the cash to pay a little more to eat healthy and whether you have the time to spend to prepare said healthy foods. Source(s): Comon, you've lived on a budget right???