The University of Florida has received a $3.7 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to test the effectiveness of long-term weight management programs geared to people living in rural areas. “We’re trying to find ways to tackle the serious problem of obesity and sedentary lifestyle in rural areas, which typically have little access to programs that promote physical fitness and proper nutrition,” said principal investigator Dean Michael G. Perri, University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions.