Of Physical Environment and Physical Activity

For Ann Forsyth, and others, planning and designing a healthy, active city is a complex task that goes beyond the 'simple case of if you build it, they will exercise.'

December 8, 2003, 8am PST | Connie Chung

In her introduction to Progressive Planning's issue on the Active City, Ann Forsyth reflects on the recent "buzz" over designing healthy cities. The issue of the Active City "examines the potential of this renewed interest in the physical city to create positive changes in the built environment," as well as "some of the limits of the current debate." She writes: "Overall, the relationship between the physical environment and physical activity is a complex one, obscured by some of the recent hype. Obviously the environment does matter to the health of the public....But how the environment matters is a complex issue. It is not a simple case of if you build it, they will exercise."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Full Story:

7th Generation The Environment’s Role in Physical Activity: Necessary but Not Sufficient

Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 in Planners Network