People who live in the most walkable neighborhoods weigh an average of 8 pounds less than people who live in the least walkable areas, according to a recent study of Salt Lake City neighborhoods. The study, done by the University of Utah, found that neighborhoods built before 1950 are generally more walkable than newer areas, because they were designed primarily for pedestrians, not cars. "Adding a decade to the average age of an area's housing decreases women's risk of obesity by about eight percent and men's by 13 percent," notes lead researcher Ken Smith, PhD. This is because neighborhoods built before 1950 tend to have sidewalks and other characteristics that make them more accessible to pedestrians, including being more densely populated and having restaurants and other businesses nearby.
In an interview with WebMD, Smith says the growing emphasis on designing pedestrian-friendly places for people to live, work, and play could have a large, positive impact on health in the future. He cited a recent report from the Brookings Institution predicting that by the year 2030, half the buildings in the United States will have been built since 2000.
Other studies have also found a link between physical health and living in older neighborhoods. A 2007 study at Stanford University found that people who are trying to increase their physical activity are more than twice as likely to succeed if they live in older, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. So . . . get out and walk, Riverside! Out the door, Avondale! Just living here makes you healthier!
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