Let's Build the Environment into It

It does not take much imagination to realize that the built environment around us, has a huge impact on our lifestyle. The built environment around us includes "urban design factors, land use, available public transportation, and the activity options for people within that space" (Booth et. al). The research backs this up, and a systematic review on "Obesity and the Built Environment" supports these relationships spot on. Some key findings of the systematic review related to the built environment include

• Overweight and obese adults were more likely to live in neighborhoods that lacked adequate sidewalks and proximal places for physical activity.
• Residents from high-walkability neighborhoods lived in neighborhoods more conducive to physical activity and had lower reported BMIs compared to low-walkability neighbourhoods.
• Residents of sprawling counties walked less, had higher BMIs, and higher obesity and hypertension prevalence than did residents of more compact counties.
• Overall, residing in a deprived area or neighborhood was associated with a higher probability of having an adverse CVD risk profile.

These are just some of the highlights from numerous studies that demonstrate how the built environemnt relates to the epidemic of obesity and associated diseases. There are significant gains that can be made simply by approaching health policy at a broader picture, which I will explore next!