Raise the Hammer
...Cars are still deadly.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has, ah, weighed in on suburbia with a new study that further confirms all the research into sedentary, car-based lifestyles and long-term health.
As Foundation spokesperson Dr. Anthony Graham said in the related news release, "our car-dependent habits are killing us."
The Foundation's 2005 Report Card states:
car-dependent Canadians get far less physical activity and are at increased risk of being overweight or obese.
Simply put, the suburban dream has gone sour. ...
According to the Foundation, for people in the suburbs, smaller towns and rural areas, this false sense of security could be putting them at higher risk for heart disease and stroke than their city dweller counterparts. Foundation research shows that city-dwellers are twice as likely to walk, bike or take public transit to get to work as their non-urban counterparts. In addition, more city-dwellers walk or bike to do daily chores.
"This Report Card is a wake-up call for all Canadians, especially those living outside major urban centres, to take a look at their communities and their lifestyles," explains Dr. Graham. "Research has demonstrated that routine physical activity is one factor that can be linked to the lower rate of obesity observed in major urban centres."
| Percent of Population Who: | Major Urban Centres | Rest of Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Find their community convenient to walk or bike in | 87% | 60% |
| Walk or bike to do daily chores | 77% | 60% |
| Are at a healthy weight | 50% | 44% |
| Walk, bike, or take public transit as primary means of getting to work | 34% | 18% |
The report actually vindicates city life, noting that "80% of Canadians believe" - incorrectly, it seems - "city living and its high pressure, fast-paced lifestyle is detrimental to your health.
The Foundation points the finger directly at what they call "heart-unhealthy" suburban planning:
Individuals living in moderate-to-high density neighbourhoods that have community and commercial services within walking distance of where they live, are 2.4 times more likely to meet [minimum recommended exercise].
"Unfortunately, non-metropolitan areas often contain disincentives to physical activity. In fact, residents are exposed daily to the effects of heart-unhealthy planning," says Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher, Dr. Robert Ross. "Retail services outside of urban areas are designed with automobile access as a priority. Sidewalks and cycle lanes are conspicuous by their absence, making suburban and rural-dwelling Canadians prisoners to their cars."
Let me close with the Foundation's recommendations for municipalities:
Sounds about right.
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