Does urban living keep you thin?

August 28, 2003

A new study suggests that residents of Chicago's collar counties are more likely to be obese than urban residents.

The peer-reviewed study, “Relationship between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity,” shows that building more compact communities with sidewalks and bike lanes may be an important strategy in the fight against obesity and hypertension. The study will appear in the September 2003 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Smart Growth America and the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) have issued a companion report, "Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl," which gives county-level data illustrating the findings for the metropolitan areas studied, including Chicago.

"These findings suggest that the adage, 'You are what you eat' could easily be changed to 'You are where you live,' said Jacky Grimshaw, vice president for policy, transportation and community development, the Center for Neighborhood Technology. "The public throughout the Chicago area has been asking for healthier transportation options like walking and biking. Transportation agencies and municipalities need to respond to the taxpayers." The Center for Neighborhood Technology is a member of Smart Growth America and STPP.

The study used national land use data to assign sprawl scores to counties, and an annual national health survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control to investigate the health status of residents in those counties.

In the Chicago area, Will County was found to have the highest degree of sprawl while Cook County was the most compact. Calculations based on the study show that residents in Cook County have a lower-than-average chance of being obese while residents in Will County have a higher-than-average chance of being obese. The study controlled for factors such as sex, age, education, and race or ethnicity.

"This study and the coordinated efforts of planners and public health officials is an important first step in examining how community design and transportation policy impacts public health and quality of life," said MarySue Barrett, president of the Metropolitan Planning Council, a member-organization of Smart Growth America. "It highlights the need for more research on the topic specific to the Chicago region. The Metropolitan Planning Council supports coordinating land use and transportation policy among local and state officials to mitigate the effects of poor design on public health."

Nationally, the study found that every fifty-point increase in the degree of sprawl was associated with a weight gain of just over one pound for an average person. People in more sprawling areas walk less for exercise and weigh more regardless of whether they exercise. The study says these results may indicate that people in more sprawling areas have fewer chances to stay fit through routine physical activity because they cannot walk to the store or other destinations close to their homes.

Transportation policy on a regional level, such as devoting more money for highway improvements at the expense of public transit and transportation enhancement projects, only exacerbates the problem. I nterconnected streets, sidewalks and town centers, coupled with a strong public transportation system encourage people to walk both for exercise and to complete daily errands.

These findings are particularly important as Congress considers a measure that would virtually eliminate federal funding for safe biking and walking. Congress is expected to vote as early as next week on a 2004 appropriations bill that would eliminate funding for the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program, which is responsible for nearly half of all pedestrian and bicycle-related safety improvements funded with federal transportation dollars. Since 1991, TE has helped build more than 8,000 bicycle and pedestrian facilities across the country.

Representatives Thomas Petri (R-WI) and John Olver (D-MA) are expected to introduce an amendment to restore full funding for Transportation Enhancements activities. Rep. William Lipinski (D-Chicago) is expected to sponsor the amendment. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Peoria) has also supported the restoration of funding for Transportation Enhancements.

"We applaud Congressman Lipinski and Congressman LaHood for supporting increased safety for bicyclists and walkers," said Grimshaw. "We hope the rest of the Illinois delegation will step up in support of healthier transportation."

Medical experts often recommend walking or biking as an effective means of meeting daily exercise requirements to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Recent polls indicate that Americans want to walk or bike more, but in many cases, the urban environment discourages them from doing so,” said Barrett.

"Measuring the Effects of Sprawl" is one of a number of articles on the health impact of sprawling development published in special issues of the American Journal of Health Promotion and the American Journal of Public Health. A copy of the full report is available at www.smartgrowthamerica.org/healthreport.html .

Smart Growth America is a coalition of nearly 100 advocacy organizations that have a stake in how metropolitan expansion affects our environment, quality of life and economic sustainability. Coalition partners include national, state and local groups working on behalf of the environment, historic preservation, social equity, transportation choices, land conservation, neighborhood redevelopment, farmland protection, labor, and town planning.

The Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) is a diverse, nationwide coalition working to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices that enhance the economy, improve public health, promote social equity, and protect the environment.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology is a public policy and advocacy organization that creates new tools and methods to support sustainable urban communities for everyone.

Founded in 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of business and civic leaders committed to serving the public interest through the promotion and implementation of sensible planning and development policies necessary for a world-class Chicago region. MPC conducts policy analysis, outreach, and advocacy in partnership with public officials and community leaders to improve equity of opportunity and quality of life throughout metropolitan Chicago.