Via Streetsblog, there is a new study examining factors influencing childhood obesity. One of the things examined was built environment and neighborhood. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study found a strong connection between the walkability
of child’s neighborhood and the likelihood of obesity:
Children who lived in walkable areas, with a child-friendly park nearby and access to healthy food had 59%
lower odds of being obese. Kids that lived in car-dependent neighbourhoods with more fast food outlets had the highest levels of obesity (16%, which is the US average). But only 8% of children were obese in walkable areas with access to more healthy food.
The article summarizing is here:
http://walkonomics.com/blog/2012/04/how-your-post-code-is-as-important-as-your-genetic-code-for-childhood-obesity/
And the study is here:
http://www.seattlechildrens.org/Press-Releases/2012/Zip-Code-as-Important-as-Genetic-Code-in-Childhood-Obesity/
Erik Weber
United We Ride -- Office of Program Management
Federal Transit Administration
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Washington, DC 20590
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