Relationships among smoking, obesity and chronic health conditions in rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian women

This study examines the relationships among smoking, obesity and chronic health conditions in rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian women. Results describe demographic correlates of smoking and obesity, differences in smoking and obesity, and the relationship of smoking and obesity to chronic health conditions in these disadvantaged populations. Current smoking and obesity are higher in rural residents than urban. Both smoking and obesity contribute to health disparities in rural populations across the nation in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and some types of cancer. The health of Appalachian women is of particular concern, as they experience rates of illness and premature death that far surpass those of other female population groups. Relationships among these variables become critical to defining points of intervention and policy approaches to improve rural women's health. This retrospective study used secondary data initially obtained from studies of women's preventive services in rural health clinics. Original chart data was collected by trained data collectors in 40 rural health clinic sites across the nation, yielding 469 women's charts for this analysis. Results indicated obese smokers were more likely to be younger, single, and to use Medicaid or be uninsured. Appalachian women were more likely than other rural women to be obese smokers. Obese women were more likely to have a personal history of hypertension and diabetes with diabetes more likely in obese smokers. Primary care providers can focus on smoking and obesity in their offices, but federal or state-funded accessible and culturally acceptable community-wide programs are needed to reduce smoking and obesity.