These statistics come at a great cost to our nation. Among children and adolescents, annual hospital costs related to obesity were $127 million during 1997–1999 (in 2001 constant U.S. Dollars), up from $35 million during 1979–1981. In 2000, the total cost of obesity in the United States was estimated to be $117 billion, of which $61 billion was for direct medical costs and $56 billion was for indirect costs. Among U.S. adults in 1996, $31 billion of treatment costs (in year 2000 dollars)—17 percent of direct medical costs—for cardiovascular disease was related to overweight and obesity.2
Research has shown that people living in sprawling areas drive more, while people living in compact communities are more likely to walk. Medical research has shown that walking and similar moderate physical activity is important to maintaining healthy weight and bestows many other health benefits.
Statistics on the relationship between the built environment and obesity have been quantified by a national study undertaken by Smart Growth America in a special report "Measuring the Effects of Sprawl." The study found that people who live in sprawling communities have a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than those who live in communities that are designed to encourage walking.
The study also found a direct relationship between sprawl and chronic disease. The odds of having hypertension, or high blood pressure, are six percent higher for every increase in the degree of sprawl. The 25 most sprawling counties had average hypertension rates of 25 per 100 while the 25 least sprawling had hypertension rates of 23 per 100. This study concludes that people in sprawling areas walk less for exercise, which may help explain the higher obesity levels. But routine daily activity, such as walking for errands, may have a bigger role. When the researchers controlled for the amount of walking for exercise that people reported, they found that people in more, sprawling counties weigh more whether or not they walk for exercise. This suggests that people in sprawling areas may be missing out on significant health benefits that are available simply by walking, biking, climbing stairs, and getting physical activity as part of everyday life.3
Economy
Increased pedestrian and walking opportunities can greatly effect the quality of health for an aging population. The Partnership for Preservation has initiated a program entitled 'Creating Communities for Active Aging', a plan to increase biking and walking by older adults. Regular, moderate exercise by older adults can help delay, prevent, or lessen the onset of disabilities and many chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Regular exercise can improve mood and alleviate depression. Greater health among older adults equates with longer independence and greater dignity.4
