Driving, Walking, and Where You Live: Links to Obesity
Source: McCann Consulting
This study shows a strong link between time spent driving and obesity: every additional 30 minutes spent in a car each day translates into a 3 percent greater chance of being obese. The same study finds that people who live in neighborhoods with a mix of shops and businesses within easy walking distance are 7 percent less likely to be obese, lowering their relative risk of obesity by 35 percent. An average white male living in a compact community with nearby shops and services is expected to weigh ten pounds less than a similar white male living in a low density, residential-only cul-de-sac subdivision.
