The age of your neighborhood may influence your risk of obesity, according to a new study from the University of Utah.

The study, to be published in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, linked the body mass index (BMI) of nearly a half million Salt Lake County residents to 2000 Census data. The study found that residents were at less risk of being obese or overweight if they lived in walk-able neighborhoods those that are more densely populated, designed to be friendlier to pedestrians and have a range of destinations for pedestrians.

The study found that neighborhoods built before 1950 tended to offer greater overall walk-ability as they more often were designed with the pedestrian in mind, while newer neighborhoods often were designed to facilitate car travel.


 


News release derived from Medical News Today. Visit www.medicalnewstoday.com for more health information. Read the full article >>