The June issue of Governing magazine reinforces what KidsWalk has always argued: bike lanes and sidewalks are related to lower obesity rates in cities. The article explains that commuters are more likely to walk or bike where safe spaces for pedestrians are available.  Additionally, areas where pedestrian commuting is common tend to have lower obesity rates than other areas.

For the purpose of this article, census information and data from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study were analyzed to see if there is a relationship between pedestrian activity and obesity rates in cities. Governing found a strong correlation between the percentage of regular walkers and bikers and the percentage of people who are neither obese nor overweight in the 126 cities analyzed.

As obesity becomes an increasingly important issue for health officials and policymakers, Governing recommends promoting open space infrastructure in urban environments as an effective prevention method. The article also suggests that healthcare savings can balance costs associated with supporting such infrastructure.

Governing advises educating and encouraging young people to safely walk and bike to promote health from an early age.  Initiatives such as those supported by the KidsWalk Coalition, that target childhood obesity reduction through active living, are critical to the health of today’s youth and tomorrow’s adults.

For the full article, please visit: Governing Magazine

 Interested in commuting and health research? You might also like: Healthy Commuting Habits