Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b1 The Built Environment and Health (Frank et al. Chapters 1 and 3) Geography 361a Environment and Health Discussion Frank et al. Model Physical activity and health Suburbanization and design

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b2 Exercise How does the built environment effect health? What specifically is the focus of Frank et al.?

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b3 Frank et al.’s Framework:

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b4 Elaboration of Framework Built environment – where we live and work Public health – outcomes, e.g., obesity, heart disease, stress Activity patterns – esp. walking bicycling Land use – e.g., proximity home, work school Design – small scale features that influence how people feel about an urban “environment” Transportation systems – esp. for walking, biking, driving, public transit

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b5 Health Patterns “Premature” death (e.g. cardiovascular disease) and disability (e.g., osteoporosis) from preventable diseases Obesity increasing –risk factor for all sorts of illness/disease Many health risks decrease with increased physical activity

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b6 Causes of Death note the causes that disappear in later period

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b7 Obesity Overweight 1 category above normal Body Mass Index (based on height:weight ratio)Body Mass Index Obese 2 categories above Prevalence CDC study – US 31% obese, 34% overweight = 65% above “normal”

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b8 Obesity Patterns increasing over time Causes of “Obesity” diet activity

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b9 Moderate Activity Benefits Muscle strength Blood pressure –e.g., Reduction risk coronary heart disease on par with stopping smoking! Depression and anxiety Obesity Skeletal development of kids Bone density adults Independence (esp. elderly)

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b10 No Pain No Gain? 80s – early 90s 20 minutes vigorous exercise 1996 US Surgeon General report –30 minutes of moderate activity on most days

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b11 Guideline: Active moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week or OR vigorous-intensity physical activity 3 or more days of the week for 20 or more minutes

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b12 Sedentary Reap New Benefits Quickest

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b13 Modifiable Behaviours and Mortality

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b14 Improve How Much? If half “sedentary” population became irregularly active (not quite guideline) total # deaths from –CHD drop 3.9% –Colon cancer drop 2.5% –Diabetes 1.5% If same population met activity guidelines: –CHD drop 7.1% –Colon cancer drop 7.4% –Diabetes 5.2%

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b15 Genetics or physical activity Maybe premature death/disability is mostly genetic?

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b16 Genetics or physical activity

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b17 Improvements in Physical Activity Over Time?

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b18 Discussion What explains low physical activity in North America?

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b19 Interconnected Causes of Sedentary Lifestyles Behavioural –“victim blaming” –choice available, e.g., transportation Suburbanization –landuse –design Time –what happened to the 35hr work week? Wealth –very much so

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b20 Physical Activity and Wealth

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b21 Is suburbanization is bad for your health? Garden Cities reaction to overcrowded and dirty large cities access to nature (healthy) best aspects of rural and urban living

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b22 Full Circle Olmstead – designer (Central Park), architect, writer –advocate for residential outside CBD – space, greenery –CBD too crowed, stressful and generally unhealthy Levittown PA – post war American (and Canadian) dream

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b23 Transportation: Modal “Choice”

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b24 Transportation: Children and Modal Choice

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b25 Transportation: Children and Modal Choice

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b26

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b27 Discussion How can we increase physical activity (not personally per se, but as a public health problem)?

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b28 Design Barriers

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b29 Design Barriers

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b30 Designing for Pedestrians

Mar , 12:10 pmGeog 361b31 Exercise/Conclusion Do we need to sacrafice the American/Canadian dream to achieve walkable/cyclable cities?