The Rural Blog

A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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Kansas fitness centers focus on providing exercise care to rural residents with Parkinson's disease

Quick hits: He's not Santa, he's Belsnickel; 'phantom' towns; how music can reframe memories; going out for a walk

A first-of-its-kind in the South, 'Bike Tennessee' offers breathtaking views from the state's rural towns

Many people track the number of steps they take each day, but can increasing the amount lead to weight loss?

The pandemic and the internet changed how rural seniors exercise; now their 'online classes are here to stay'

Quick hits: E-bikes, 'old-time socialism', phases of the moon, your brain on music, a pain in the neck and more . . .

Snowshoes get more popular, and it's a good time for them

Rural doctor's weight-loss clinic sees big results with old-fashioned methods: eat better food, less of it, and exercise

Study shows rural residents are driving global rise in obesity

Rural Kentucky hiking club is changing local attitudes about health and the community

Life expectancy rates are lower, and are even declining, in some poor, rural counties

Annual County Health Rankings are released; can be a great starting point for local coverage

Michigan county trying to shed label as state's least healthiest with county-wide health effort

Health of the States project ranks each state on wide range of health outcomes, interactively

Older Americans happiest in Hawaii, Ariz., least happiest in W.Va., Ky. says Gallup well-being index

About half of U.S. adults are fatter than they think they are, say Gallup poll and CDC study

A county's poor health status was, in fact, a strong predictor of its vote for Donald Trump

Obesity rates beginning to decline, but are still too high: a national report to localize

Small, rural county works to improve its children's health and thus change local health culture

Rural areas may need collaboration to create places for residents to get exercise