Is your neighborhood making you fat?

myurav

This article is fairly instinctive in that people who can't walk to places tend to walk less - but still an interesting read for your day

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/12/10/why_cul_de_sacs_are_bad_for_your_health_happy_city_by_charles_montgomery.html

Would you guys move from the suburbs into a more accessible area so you can improve your health? I know it would be more expensive, but will those costs be offset by the reduction in gas and your improvement in health?

It's a tough call because there are many rural areas and suburban areas in the States - and then, does this trend hold up in other countries? What say you?

FrnkLft

DNR, but I don't think the solution to weight maintenance is moving to a city lol It's taking a healthy mindset about exercise and eating, and finding something active that you enjoy.

just_Jennie1

No way in heck would you ever catch me moving to a city. I'm content living in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it takes me the better part of a day to do all my errands and just about every place is 30-60 minutes away from me but I wouldn't trade the peace and quiet for anything.

myurav

No way in heck would you ever catch me moving to a city. I'm content living in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it takes me the better part of a day to do all my errands and just about every place is 30-60 minutes away from me but I wouldn't trade the peace and quiet for anything.

That's a fair point - and the article doesn't really discuss people just taking walks in their neighborhoods - houses farther out probably have some nice nature walks nearby. But that's more deliberate than just walking to the store and back, which I supposed was the point of this article. The average energy expenditure goes up when you walk to and from places.

rduhlir

I understand the logic behind it. Being in a city means easier access to gyms, parks with good running trails, etc... But to me this really is only once again trying to push blame off onto something else other than the person. If someone really wants to get in shape and get healthy, eat better, etc... they will do it no matter where they live.

just_Jennie1

No way in heck would you ever catch me moving to a city. I'm content living in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it takes me the better part of a day to do all my errands and just about every place is 30-60 minutes away from me but I wouldn't trade the peace and quiet for anything.

That's a fair point - and the article doesn't really discuss people just taking walks in their neighborhoods - houses farther out probably have some nice nature walks nearby. But that's more deliberate than just walking to the store and back, which I supposed was the point of this article. The average energy expenditure goes up when you walk to and from places.

I just can't stand the crowds and noise LOL.

seltzermint555

I understand the logic behind it. Being in a city means easier access to gyms, parks with good running trails, etc... But to me this really is only once again trying to push blame off onto something else other than the person. If someone really wants to get in shape and get healthy, eat better, etc... they will do it no matter where they live.

I agree with this.

Where I live, there are stores, restaurants, etc, all within easy walking distance. Frequently my husband and I walk to places we want to go. However, I seriously don't know ANYONE else in our city who does this. I know a handful of people who run, but they could do that anywhere. Living near places you want to go doesn't mean you will walk there. I guarantee every person on my block (except for us) drives to Panera if they want to eat there...even though it's less than 2 blocks away. The supermarket is a little under 1 mile and we're a two person household so we can easily carry our groceries. People with kids or larger households can't & don't really do that (unless they have to because they don't have a vehicle).

ninerbuff

People get fat by eating too much regardless if they walk or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Phaedra2014

This article is fairly instinctive in that people who can't walk to places tend to walk less - but still an interesting read for your day

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2013/12/10/why_cul_de_sacs_are_bad_for_your_health_happy_city_by_charles_montgomery.html

Would you guys move from the suburbs into a more accessible area so you can improve your health? I know it would be more expensive, but will those costs be offset by the reduction in gas and your improvement in health?

It's a tough call because there are many rural areas and suburban areas in the States - and then, does this trend hold up in other countries? What say you?

With all the free workouts available online (including the Walk Away the Pounds series), I don't think where one lives is an excuse to not get fit. We are exposed to way too much information on health and wellness to continue keeping our heads in a dark place.

bmqbonnie

For most of my life, I've lived in the country, a good 10 minutes from town. I've also lived in town while in college and now.

At one point I lived really close to a couple shopping centers. Yes, I walked to the grocery store, to class, etc. I also walked to Little Caesars, Qdoba, etc!

When I lived in the country I was more active. Walks, runs, bike rides etc were all more enjoyable. And it's more trouble than it's worth to go to a restaurant. Fast food is way more tempting when it's across the street than when it's a 10 minute drive away.

hananah89

While I could technically walk to a few stores less than 2 miles away, its just not what I want to do when its easier to carry things in the car. But when I was in Italy a year ago, we figured we walked about 10 miles one of the days in Rome and I actually lost weight while there (gained it back when we went to Eastern Europe where they like meat, potatoes and beer!)

elainecroft

My biggest complaint about my neighborhood is that you can't walk anywhere. I would love to be able to walk to the store, out to dinner, etc. There is nice walking paths, but they don't go anywhere, which is fine if you go out for walks regularly, but I want to incorporate exercise into daily life as much as possible, and it is just hard to do so in the modern 'burbs.

in_the_stars

People get fat by eating too much regardless if they walk or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Exactly. You have a choice to walk or drive, so go somewhere and buy things to make your own "healthy" food.

jclist1

I have lived in both. Although living in the center of everything does make you walk more, it doesn't mean you will be healthier. It is a commitment regardless of where you call home. It is a lifestyle choice. I prefer land and small towns with the values it brings rather than a big city.

DamePiglet

My neighborhood didn't make me fat. My bad choices did.

It's interesting in a sociological way, but at the end of the day we all have to choose how much we eat.

JoRocka

except weight is a function of food not exercise.

Article is invalid.

jclist1

When I lived in the country I was more active. Walks, runs, bike rides etc were all more enjoyable. And it's more trouble than it's worth to go to a restaurant. Fast food is way more tempting when it's across the street than when it's a 10 minute drive away.

This too. When it takes you more time to drive to a fast food place than to cook a good healthy meal at home, it makes the decision a whole lot easier to be healthy. Living in the city is when I ate out more than ever because just about everything was a 5 or so minute walk. Even though we walked to get there, burning 30 calories in a short walk did not compare to the number of calories I ate out.

MagicalLeopleurodon

Nope. I grow my food, hunt, etc.

Plus, chasing people out of my yard is good cardio.

BeccaBollons

I live in a large town in the uk. When we lived in town centre I walked EVERYWHERE! I was slim and fit. Then we moved in with my in-laws in the country and I suddenly had to use the car for getting my daughter to school, grocery shopping etc, and that is where I put on my extra weight. I missed walking so much. Now I live back in the town, but right at the edge of town, so I can and do walk into town regularly, and enjoy the long walk several times a week. We are very fortunate to live where we do, so close to town AND country, so we can go for walks and bike rides. Its the best of both.
I did hate the lack of exercise living out in the sticks, but like others before me have said, its a choice. You either make time to move your body or don't. I didn't, now I do.

just_Jennie1

People get fat by eating too much regardless if they walk or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Exactly. You have a choice to walk or drive, so go somewhere and buy things to make your own "healthy" food.

Sure, but I'm not about to walk 10 miles to the grocery store.

And I think the point of the article is that people who live in areas where everything is really close are more apt to walk or ride their bike to do their errands which would lend a little bit of exercise that they may or may not have gotten before. Yes weight gain is due to over eating but exercise also plays a part in weight loss.

myurav

Nope. I grow my food, hunt, etc.

Plus, chasing people out of my yard is good cardio.

Hahahaha - usually I just stand on my porch with a shotgun to keep people away.

Hornsby

I definitely think that where you live plays a roll in how fit you are. I live in the city and walk/ride my bike nearly every where during the warmer months. There are definitely fatter people out in the suburbs and what not....lol.

gobonas99

We live in the suburbs. We have a kinney drugs and a couple of mini-marts within 2 miles of our house. I have walked and ridden my bike to them. My chiropractor is 4 miles from my house - if I go there from home, I ride my bike, but have to drive if I stop on my way home from work. I have ridden my bike to the gym, the grocery store, and church (all within 6-7 miles of my house). I used to ride my bike to work in the summer (13 miles away), until our office moved closer to downtown, where it is impossible to safely ride a bike (if I didn't get hit by a car, I would get mugged). I work near downtown now (and I worked IN downtown about 10 years ago) - I can count on ONE hand the number of times we walked anywhere for lunch when I worked downtown, and since we moved to the new office in August, I've walked maybe 3 times down the block to the chinese takeout place.

I don't know what kind of city you're thinking of, but it is simply NOT SAFE to walk around in this city, especially if you're by yourself...even in broad daylight. My in-laws live in the city (like the *actual* city, not downtown where all the businesses are), and they drive EVERYWHERE, because it is not safe to walk around - you'd be mugged...or shot. Seriously. I very much wish they would turn their summer camp into a year-round home and move OUT of the city.

I value my life, so I'll stay in my 'burb, thanks.

cwolfman13

It doesn't matter if you live in a metro or suburban area. I live in a metro but it's in the Western U.S. and it's all about urban sprawl here...though I live in a metro, I can't walk to many places and given the sprawl, public transport sucks.

It doesn't matter though...I move when I can move and I exercise and workout. I don't think I'd be any healthier at this point living in Manhattan than I am here living in New Mexico...in fact, my mental health would probably be in the ****ter if I had to live in Manhattan.

just_Jennie1

.in fact, my mental health would probably be in the ****ter if I had to live in Manhattan.

Indeed.

The best part of visiting NYC is leaving NYC.

thatjeffsmith

Previous neighborhood had no sidewalks and was on a very busy street.

New subdivision has sidewalks and greenways. The new neighborhood is encouraging me NOT to be fat.

JoRocka

walking anywhere in the top 2/3 of NJ and you take your life in your hands.

Seriously.