Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Healthy Eating and Active Living in Rural Communities

Table 1

Themes and subthemes identified through focus groups.

Barriers to physical activity
Lack of time and competing priorities
Competition with activities that promote sedentary behavior
Social norms and stigma
Built environment barriers and geographic isolation
Facilitators to physical activity
Building physical activity into daily routines
Social support
Affordable and accessible fitness venues
Barriers to healthy eating
Lack of time and competing priorities
Cost of healthy food
Adjusting habits to favor a healthier diet
Food environment barriers and geographic isolation
Difficulty avoiding unhealthy food at community venues or
gatherings
Facilitators to healthy eating
Ability to grow and produce food
Access to farmers’ markets and farm shares