Health and Zoning

by: commonweal

Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 12:45:48 PM EST

Studies have concluded that sprawl has a detrimental impact on our health and socially isolates specific segments of our society, specifically the elderly, children, and the poor.  A two year study by Reid Ewing involving over 200,000 respondents and reported in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2003, as well as a 2004 RAND Corporation study, concluded that overall, people living in the car centric suburbs are more likely to become physically inactive and overweight, which contributes to increased risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease and hypertension as well as mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.  Due to sprawl, basic shopping, social and recreational needs are not within walking distance and public transit is lacking.  According to a Brookings Institute report in July 2003, many seniors must rely on others for transportation or have items delivered to their homes, and may have to decide either to remain immobile and trapped at home or to drive when it many no longer be a safe choice, thus contributing to social isolation and declining mental and physical health.

Children are likewise socially isolated by being dependent on others for transportation.  The fact that many children no longer walk to school and need a ride to parks or ball fields adds to a child's inactivity, which can lead to health problems such as obesity.  According to a 2002 CDC report, "22 percent of American children are now obese, twice the level of ten years ago."  Furthermore, according to Andres Duany in Suburban Nation, sociologists point to "teen isolation and boredom" as a contributing factor to the high national rate of teen suicide.  Nearly nonexistent before 1950 and the advent of the suburbs, by 2000 suicide accounted for more than 12% of youth mortalities and the rate is much higher in the suburbs than in cities.  Something for all of us to think about.