Design of Neighborhoods Impacts Obesity Rates

Seattle Children’s Research Institute has taken a closer look at obesity rates and how they compare with socio-economic status. Turns out the culprit of rising obesity rates may be the environment more than food itself. Here’s a transcript from a KUOW interview with pediatrician Dr. Mollie Greves Grow who discusses the results.

Obesity used to be seen as an issue of calories consumed and burned. But recent studies show it’s much more complicated than input versus output. The environment in which we live and work plays an important role too. The latest study by Seattle Children’s Research Institute shows poorer neighborhoods tend to have higher rates of obesity compared to affluent neighborhoods. Dr. Mollie Greves Grow is a pediatrician specializing in childhood obesity. She’s also one of the authors of the study. She says it’s not the residents’ paycheck per se that determines obesity. The income level helps determine what kind of infrastructure or amenities are available to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Grow: “In poorer neighborhoods we found that there fewer parks, especially safe parks where people feel like they can be active and feel safe there. There are fewer things too, like safe sidewalks and ways that people can get around by walking and by biking.”

And it’s not just parks and sidewalks that are often lacking. Access to healthy food choices are limited, too. There are fewer grocery stores in poorer neighborhoods. So residents tend to buy food at convenience stores or fast food restaurants. Dr. Grow says this latest information shows that addressing obesity is complex. It’s not as simple as telling families to exercise and eat more nutritious foods.

More…

Related posts:

1. KUOW's Weekday Presents 'Poverty, Obesity and Health'
2. City Stream Dedicates Program to Healthy Living
3. Exploration into the Role of Design in the Urban Food Movement – UW Panel Presentation and Charette

Comments RSS You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.