Cities can make you skinny 22-02-2007 People who live in the densest, pedestrian-friendly parts of New York City
have a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) compared to other New Yorkers,
a new study finds. Lower BMI indicates less body fat. The researchers say
placing shops, restaurants and public transit near residences may promote
walking and independence from private automobiles. The study appears in the
March/April issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
"There are relatively strong associations between built environment and BMI,
even in population-dense New York City," said the study's lead author Andrew
Rundle of the Mailman School of Public Health. Conversely, other research has
shown that suburban sprawl and all the driving that comes with it leads to
health woes.
In the new study, Rundle and colleagues looked at data from 13,102 adults
from New York City’s five boroughs. Matching information on education, income,
height, weight and home address with census data and geographic records, they
determined access to public transit, proximity to commercial goods and services
and BMI, a measure of weight in relation to height.
City dwellers living in areas evenly balanced between residences and
commercial use had significantly lower BMIs compared to New Yorkers who lived in
mostly residential or commercial areas. "A mixture of commercial and residential
land uses puts commercial facilities that you need for everyday living within
walking distance," Rundle said. "You’re not going to get off the couch to walk
to the corner store if there’s no corner store to walk to."
Source: Live Science back |
