urban sprawl feeds obesity

read the whole article here: http://www.komoradio.com/news/archive/4103071.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sprawling suburbs that make it harder for people to get around without a car may help fuel obesity: Americans who live in the most sprawling counties tend to weigh 6 more pounds than their counterparts in the most compact areas.

Adding to the sprawl concern: Pedestrians and bicyclists are much more likely to be killed by passing cars here than in parts of Europe where cities are engineered to encourage physical activity - and whose residents typically are skinnier and live longer than the average American.

Those are conclusions of major new studies being published Thursday that call on urban planners and zoning commissions to consider public health in designing neighborhoods.

"How you build things influences health in a much more pervasive way than I think most health professionals realize," said Dr. Richard Jackson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who helped edit the research, published in the American Journal of Public Health and American Journal of Health Promotion.

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

Adding to the sprawl concern: Pedestrians and bicyclists are much more likely to be killed by passing cars

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The way I look at it is if we were to worry about everything that might happen to us, we'd never get out of our beds in the morning. Doesn't matter what you do, there's an element of risk involved.

I think too many people (and the writers of these consultations) use too many excuses to justify why people are getting obese or getting heart-attacks etc. The truth of the matter is many people are just too lazy to get up off their backsides and take some exercise. They'd prefer to sit and watch TV instead.

And the sad thing is, Python, that this (and the last) generation of parents have taught their children by modelling it to them, that sitting round and watching TV is the thing to do...

:( :mad:

i think you missed the point of the article. It is a call to try and change our terribly sedentary ways here in the US.

the article cites groups studying how it is done over there in Europe.

But I agree, in some ways. Look at where I grew up- Central WI. Sure in some of the cities you can bike from place to place- if the narrow roads and p*ssed off drivers don't kill you before the snow-mangled roads do, but in the more rural, suburban areas, the only thing linking one town to the next is the freeway or the interstate. Littered with glass, they're no way to travel. I had reflected on my visit this spring, that I lived only 7 mi from my high school. Theoretically, I could have easily biked that. I lived 2mi from my job, and could have biked *that*. but the thought of the freeway (and not having had anyone around to tell me that it was possible- even *good* to bike more than a mile or two recreationally) kept me from doing it. I was a sedentary kid. I fished, I hunted, I played video games, thankfully softball in the summer, but that was about it... and driving everywhere.

If I didn't have such a rapid metabolism, I would've been sprawling, too. When you're a short walk (eh, why walk when we can drive?) to the nearest 7-11, what's the point?

my sons both know that part of the reason that they are not rounder is that their mom threw them out to play as often as I could..
I didn't keep my kids in because of fear (a common thing nowadays)
I told them to go out and explore.

It's true, everything in this country, for the most part, is designed so that we can be as sedentary as possible, and now our society is paying the price in terms of health. And many of the roads leave a lot to be desired for cycling; a few are downright dangerous! I'll use my area as an example: the side streets although narrow can be good to ride on because they're not busy; some of the busier roads have a decent shoulder or a wide outside lane where I can stay out of the way of faster traffic, the roads downtown are a bit trickier because they have cars parked all along the sides (but traffic tends to be slow so I'm a little more inclined to be out in the lane rather than way to the right; there are often two lanes in each direction so people can pass me if necessary). And then there's Route 9, which goes from busy road with cars parked along both sides and one lane in each direction, to two lanes in each direction, divided, and for a short stretch there's a shoulder, to very heavy traffic with no shoulder (speed limits in this section increase from 30 to 35 mph, then go to 45+ as you go into the neighboring town). Does this sound like a road any of you would feel safe riding on? I wouldn't, that's for sure. And it stinks, because it's the only way to get to some places that are within biking distance but because of this road I am forced to drive. Obviously urban sprawl is only one factor in the whole obesity situation, but I do think it contributes. Besides, what excuse do a lot of people give for not exercising? "I just don't have time!" If physical activity were incorporated into everyday life by walking and cycling for transportation, it would go a long way toward helping that problem.

The book The Art of Urban Cycling has several chapters on how our country was turned into an automoblie-based system of roads and traffic. Everything about modern community planning was laid out with the idea that everyone drives everywhere. Period. Cars are still king and pedestrians and bikes are ZERO, and that really needs to change starting with local planning boards and citizens' complaints.
It's TRUE that way more people will bike if the roads are safer for them in any number of ways.

P.S. It's not just "obesity"- it's being out of shape no matter what your weight. There are plenty of thin people too who are inactive and out of shape and need exercise to get healthy.

Just considering what roads look like over here... and increasingly local government bodies are making road-planning decisions that include provision for bike lanes and cycle paths. Its great. Slow... but we are heading in the right direction.

It's also really good to see mayors getting involved in "bike challenges" once a year where they lead a bike ride through their city to promote awareness and health.

Lisa, I am going to look out for that book - haven't heard of it before. Thanks :)

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

my sons both know that part of the reason that they are not rounder is that their mom threw them out to play as often as I could..
I didn't keep my kids in because of fear (a common thing nowadays)
I told them to go out and explore.

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Same with my kids. Both had bikes from an early age, roller skates, skateboards and all the rest. Nice day - "Oi! Out and play!"

Even though my son has always had kidney problems he was always out playing with his mates - football usually or climbing trees - doing what lads do. Even after his kidneys failed 5 years ago he still went out playing football. He's 20 now, still on dialysis and still plays football with his mates and cycles with me. Perhaps not as much as others do but I've never tried to wrap him in cottonwool.

So far my son hasn't expressed any interest in learning to drive. I did offer to get him driving lessons and he just curled his nose up at the idea. Mentioned getting him a new (decent) bike after he gets transplanted and his eyes lit up:D

The book Fast Food Nation also gives some insight into the rise of urban sprawl.

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Originally Posted by zencentury

The book Fast Food Nation also gives some insight into the rise of urban sprawl.

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That it does. It also definitely makes you think twice before eating at a fast-food joint--read this book if you want to be grossed out!

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Originally Posted by Jolt

That it does. It also definitely makes you think twice before eating at a fast-food joint--read this book if you want to be grossed out!

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Or watch the documentary "Supersize me". Boy that cured ME from going to fast food places much anymore!

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Or watch the documentary "Supersize me". Boy that cured ME from going to fast food places much anymore!

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Yeah, that is another good one! Really shows how unhealthy the stuff is--he gained a bunch of weight, his cholesterol went up significantly AND his liver function tests were elevated, in addition to generally feeling rotten. And of course there was the "McPuke" scene in the car...

People have a really funny way of going about prioritizing the things that most threaten their health and way of life.

I find it ironic that we can condemn one thing and yet be ambivalent about another... cycle to save gas and yet take cross-country flights every so often, condemn destructive ranching practices and yet use leather/meat/wool, condemn clear cutting and yet buy things with huge boxes and tons of wrapping paper, build wooden houses and move out into the newly cleared land- complain about urbane sprawl and yet not notice that cities sprawl because there are just more people, and people need somewhere to live. We *all* want that nice little ranch house with a yard and a dog etc etc...

The problem is, there just keep being more people to want that. Our kids grow up, and they want a house of their own. ...then they have kids and when they grow up, they'll want houses, too. Or apartments, or wherever... hence suburban sprawl. Americans want space, we don't want to live in apartments or flats on narrow little streets, just like we want our monster SUVs, our Vauxhalls and our Chevys, not the "little toy cars" we make fun of on european streets.

What Americans don't seem to get is that we have a decision to make- Either we are willing to settle for a little more crowding- a smaller yard, a smaller apartment, less sprawl and just larger buildings- or we realize that our children will never get to see the fields and forests we tear apart today to construct new apartment complexes and subdivisions. Already I've seen several field and forest areas fall to the hands of the urban (or suburban) developer... the fields across from my parents' house, the fields by my and my ex's old elementary schools, the pretty, wooded lot next to my apartment...

We've also got a problem with the European concept of zero or negative population growth. The population of the US and Canada will *double* in 117 years. Where do you think the sprawl will be then?
just saying.

someone cycling every day to save gas money more than makes up for the "cost" of that international flight.

what gets me are:
people leaving the faucet running.
people leaving their cars running.
cities planned so poorly that it's HARD to get to a supermarket
without a car.
people LIVING in their cars because they have too many activities.
people flocking to desert climates where you can't live unless you have a/c all year round!
off my soap box.
I loved the idea of a solar heated bathtub!
If we all do A LITTLE it will make up for the bad things that we do. it's a start.

today i will do my part. Taking an electric bus downtown so i can
go to Fremont on my bike.

Everyone here has great observations about what's going on. I often laugh when I look at the parking lot at work, there are so many huge trucks and SUVs that can't even fit in a parking spot! All of these vehicles are driven by ONE driver. I work/park in a restricted area so it is rare to have more than one person in a vehicle. A lot of our workgroup, also, live in places up to 100 miles away.

While I drive to work (due to my hours and distance, I pretty much have to though I would LOVE to take the bus or light rail if it was possible), my car gets over 35 mpg. My car also has enough room for my bike. When we're at home, we walk everywhere. We are in the city but not downtown. If we go to the grocery store, the post office, or out to eat, we walk. People actually laugh at us because we're known as "the walkers". Our one hangout is about a mile away or so and people seem to think we're doing something incredibly difficult by walking. If we go downtown, we take the bus then walk around. Is easier that way.

I am always amused by the people that travel to Europe and marvel about how they "ate everything they wanted and still lost weight!". Um...duh. Walking, biking (is common in Denmark) and racing to the underground are perfect little ways to get exercise in.

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

people LIVING in their cars because they have too many activities.

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Hey now, you've peeked in my car!!! Though maybe it's laziness instead of too many activities. :D

I believe the Minneapolis/St. Paul was rated one of the worst cities in the country for urban sprawl. Ay, yi yi. I've been involved in some local development issues, and when we raise concerns about developments making the area less safe for pedestrians or cyclists, we are called communists, anti-diversity...you name it. We're trying to encourage development that allows people choice when it comes to their transportation, and we get screeched at by the auto-reliant because they don't want to subsidize other people's transportation. Not to mention we've been subsidizing the auto industry/way of life for YEARS AND YEARS...

fyi
i do some of this stuff too.
we all have to try to do better. I am trying!
Then i think. what about that woman in africa who can't get clean water for her little kids and has to wait in line to get a mosquito net to cover her babies with that she can't afford to get but maybe some of us rich westerners donated enough $$ to a charity who doles them out to her and maybe there are enough today?
and here i am running water down the drain, water that she could drink?

Sigh..

When DH and I met, we both had large houses with mortgages and several acres of land, 50 minute drive apart from each other.
We both sold our big houses, got ride of half of all our junk, and bought a LITTLE house outright, on a 1/3 acre, right in town here. We purposely looked for and bought a house where we would be able to WALK into town without using cars.
That's what we do- we usually WALK or BIKE the 1 mile round trip to Main St. and back- to the P.O, the bank, the drugstore, the cafe, the health food store, etc. Biking and walking. We only take the cars to do a big supermarket trip. We work at home (we are lucky that way, not all people can do that I realize).
We use a tiny fraction of the gas we used to use. Plus we are now in much better health.

We have similar problems over here. I live 2 1/2 miles from the town centre. Easy commuting by bike and we have a good bus service - runs every 10 minutes. Unfortunately, at the moment our town centre is more or less decimated as they are building a new shopping centre. At this end of town we have a big retail park with ASDA-Walmart and several other big named stores. We do our main shopping there and if there is anything I need there are cycle paths (no cars allowed) from my house directly there. I just put whatever I buy in my back-pack. It takes 8 minutes to get to ASDA-Walmart by bike. It takes 12 minutes by car as the cycle paths are a more direct route.

We have a serious overcrowding problem here thanks to the government we have operating an "open door" immigration policy. There aren't enough houses to go round and immigrants are being given houses in preference to our own people - many who have been waiting for a house for several years. In the private sector, house prices are now so high that young people can't afford them. Most houses now cost well into 6 figure sums of money.

To compound problems, we don't have a decent public transport system and our roads are a mess, full of potholes. Public transport is also very expensive here. Go to countries like France, Holland, Germany etc. and their public transport is good and well thought out. What really irks me is that the government is banging on about getting cars off the road but to be honest, often it is cheaper to use your car than use public transport - which is also very unreliable here. They really need to sort out both town planning and public transport if they want to get people out of cars.

Geography of Nowhere

This is an excellent book about urban sprawl which touches on all of these issues.