When we're out looking for a new home, we don't often think about how our choice can impact our health -- but we should! A new study provides evidence supporting a seemingly obvious, although scientifically unproven, link between walking- and cycling-friendly communities and lower levels of obesity. And we all know how obesity relates to health.
Researchers found that people are more likely to have
healthy weights if they live in places where walking and cycling are more
common. The link held up among nations, cities, and US states.
"It's really important to promote walking and cycling as safe, convenient and feasible modes of getting around on an everyday basis," said lead author John Pucher, a professor who studies transportation at Rutgers University.
Prof. Pucher and colleagues analyzed statistics about walking and cycling for all purposes from 14 countries, including Sweden, Spain, and Great Britain. They also looked at statistics about walking and cycling to work (it had to be the main way people got there) in all 50 US states and 47 of the 50 largest US cities.
Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Spain had the highest levels of walking and cycling among the countries, with the United States in the bottom three with Australia and Canada. Among American cities, the highest rates of walking and cycling to work were in Boston, Washington DC, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Seattle.
The researchers tried to find links between the levels of walking and cycling and those of physical activity, obesity, and diabetes in the geographic areas. Their findings appear in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
There's a connection between more walking and cycling and lower levels of obesity and diabetes, the researchers found. Not surprisingly, they also linked more walking and cycling to higher overall levels of physical activity.
The study's findings suggest that a big part of the gaps between American states and cities concerning health can be explained by differences in levels of walking and cycling, Pucher said.
While the link between more exercise and less obesity might seem obvious, many people simply don't make the connection. "As obvious as it is," he said, "it's shocking that Americans don't want to do anything about it. It's amazing how unconcerned most Americans are about this."
Lawrence Frank, an associate professor who studies transportation at the University of British Columbia, said the study findings reflect the results of previous research that show the effects of exercise (or the lack of it) on health.
"Physical activity is crucial," Frank said. "If we keep designing communities in ways that make driving the more rational choice, we can expect health care costs to go up and quality of life to go down."
So, instead of making sure your next house is close to the freeway or within driving distance of a shopping mall, check out the walking areas and bike paths!
SOURCE: "Walking and cycling to health: a comparison of recent evidence from city, state, and international studies." Am J Public Health 100(10), 2010. Abstract online
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