Urban Sprawl Could Be a Cause of Obesity

Car trips replace short walks, leading to a general lack of exercise.

1 minute read

November 19, 2003, 7:00 AM PST

Health professionals are looking to the government to help solve one of the biggest problems in the United States, obesity, by stopping one of the latest trends, urban sprawl. Developments without adequate sidewalks, long distances to shops and open space, and other socializing areas essentially force residents to drive from place to place, reducing their walking time. Preliminary results by Lawrence Frank, former Georgia Tech professor, indicated that as homes per acre increase from two or fewer to eight or more, residents get 80 percent more moderate activity such as walking.

Thanks to Adam Weiss

Read the full story: Health pros link sprawl with spread

Monday, November 17, 2003 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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