Are Our Cities Making Us Fat?

Smart City Radio investigates why a growing number of researchers are blaming the design of our cities for the trend toward obesity.

1 minute read

June 13, 2003, 1:00 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Some new weight loss scheme seems to appear in the news every day. Why? Because Americans are battling fat. And a growing number of researchers are blaming the design of our cities. Phyllis Bleiweis is the executive director of the Seaside Institute. The institute recently hosted a meeting of health policy officials, architects, doctors and planners to discuss how we have engineered walking and biking out of our cities. Richard Killingsworth is the director of Active Living by Design at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. He is trying to promote physical activity through community design and transporation alternatives. Smart City Radio show host Carol Coletta talks to Phyllis Bleiweis and Richard Killingsworth on the next "Smart City." Listen live on the Web Saturdays at 8 a.m. and Sundays at noon. In Memphis and the Mid-South, tune into 91.1, WKNO FM, Sundays at 9 a.m., or on 88.9, WKNA FM, Saturdays at 8 a.m. and Sundays at noon. Or listen to archived shows online anytime.

Thanks to Sheila Edmundson

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