Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- There’s plenty of obesity in the U.S., but a new study finds the problem is worse in rural areas compared to urban ones.
Researchers say that 39 percent of rural Americans are obese, as opposed to just 33 percent of urbanites. The study also found that obesity is most pronounced for people between the ages of 20 and 39.
Researchers attribute the numbers to geographic isolation, saying rural dwellers may lack access to healthier food selections, gyms are harder to find and there’s little awareness and concern about how preparation contributes to calories in food.
