September 27, 2004

•  

  
  

  

  
  

  Can the suburbs make you sick?

  
  

   

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Mon Sep 27, 9:53 AM ET

  
  

  
  

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Living in the suburbs may have once been part of the American dream but it can lead to high blood pressure, arthritis and headaches, researchers have reported.
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  An adult living somewhere like Atlanta, with its spread-out suburbs and car-heavy culture, will have a health profile that looks like that of someone who lives in Seattle -- but who is four years older.
  

  
  

  And the culprit seems to be exercise, or the lack of it.
  

  
  

  "We know from previous studies that suburban sprawl reduces the time people spend walking and increases the time they spend sitting in cars, and that is associated with higher obesity rates. This probably plays an important role in the health effects we observe."
  

  
  

  The differences between city and suburban people held even when factors such as age, economic status, race and the local environment were taken into account.

  
  

   

  • 1:43 pm
  • 2 Comments