Sprawl Blamed For US Obesity

Compact forms of development are better for the environment and healthier, says a panel at the 11th annual CNU conference.

1 minute read

June 20, 2003, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"Researchers presented more evidence yesterday blaming spread-out suburban development for America's obesity epidemic and for a variety of other public and mental health woes, allowing antisprawl activists to argue that new, compact forms of development would be better for the environment and also healthier for individuals... Suburban culture and monotonous landscapes can also make people depressed, Richard Jackson, director of environmental health at the Centers for Disease Control, told a gathering of planners and architects last night in Washington. Jackson's research was described as ''quantifying the malaise of sprawl,'' and links spread-out development with a parallel epidemic of several ills -- including poor nutrition, diabetes, and environmental illnesses."

Thanks to Congress for the New Urbanism

FULL STORY: Suburban sprawl blamed for US obesity

Friday, June 20, 2003 in The Boston Globe

Social / Demographics United States

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