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Pedestrian-friendly cities reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for weight problems and diabetes. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day would be enough to significantly reduce the risk factor of obesity and diabetes. In everyday life, however, many people are too comfortable, which according to the results of a recent study is also related to their urban environment. Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods therefore motivate movement and the proportion of people with obesity and diabetes is significantly lower. An aspect that should be considered more by urban planners in the future.
The research team led by Gillian Booth of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto has investigated the relationship between the urban environment and the incidence of childhood obesity and diabetes in his recent research. In particular, they addressed the question of whether the pediatric and adolescent risk may be lower in pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. The researchers published their results in the journal "JAMA".
In pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, fewer people suffer from obesity, obesity, and diabetes. (Image: Christian Müller / fotolia.com) Impact of urban planning on health
In recent years, the number of people with overweight, obesity and diabetes has increased dramatically. In this context, the effects of the urban environment and, in particular, the focus on automobile traffic in urban planning are also discussed. The Canadian researchers have now reviewed the overall health data of more than three million Canadians and the more detailed data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (sample: 5,500 adults between the ages of 30 and 64 from 15 cities in the province of Ontario) from 2001 to 2012 possible links between obesity, diabetes and a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
Index for pedestrian friendliness
The researchers used a special index to compile five categories of pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and analyzed the prevalence of obesity, obesity and diabetes in the population. The index was based on four equally weighted factors: population density (number of people per square kilometer), housing density (number of occupied houses per square kilometer), walking distance (number of retail outlets within 10 minutes, service facilities such as libraries, banks, community centers and schools) as well as the number of crossroads.
Pedestrian-friendly urban planning required
The study revealed that a "pedestrian-friendly neighborhood was associated with a decreased prevalence of overweight and obesity and decreased incidence of diabetes," Booth and colleagues report. Although a causal relationship can not yet be deduced from the statistical correlation, there is much to suggest that pedestrian-friendly urban planning motivates the population to exercise more and thus reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes. Further research is now needed to determine if the observed associations are causal. (Fp)