The Health Benefits of Active Transportation Do city planners have more power than doctors over health?

The Health The Health Benefits of Active Benefits of Active

TransportationTransportation

Do city Do city planners planners

have more have more power than power than

doctors doctors over over

health?health?

OutlineOutline

Air pollutionAir pollution Global warmingGlobal warming Obesity ***Obesity ***

Even if you don’t smell or see it, air pollution from cars has an impact

in your community.

Health Effects of Air Health Effects of Air PollutionPollution

Asthma - Asthma - Asthma rates have at least doubled in the last few decades to ~10% in adults, even higher for kids

Cardiovascular disease – increased in Cardiovascular disease – increased in both long and short-term exposureboth long and short-term exposure

Chronic lung disease (COPD) Chronic lung disease (COPD) increasedincreased

Put another wayPut another way

For 2003 in Ontario, the OMA For 2003 in Ontario, the OMA estimates 2,060 premature deaths, estimates 2,060 premature deaths, 48,690 emergency room visits, 48,690 emergency room visits, $465.2 million in direct health care $465.2 million in direct health care (hospital) costs, and $585.6 million in (hospital) costs, and $585.6 million in lost productivity costs due to air lost productivity costs due to air pollutionpollution

Are we already too late to stop global warming?

With a population of less than 30 million, we use as much energy as the entire continent of Africa

Our car use may account for up to 60% of our personal contribution to global warming.

Health Effects of Global Health Effects of Global WarmingWarming

New infectious diseases in new New infectious diseases in new populationspopulations

Indirect effectIndirect effect Food production issuesFood production issues Human displacementHuman displacement Decreased access to clean waterDecreased access to clean water

The Obesity EpidemicThe Obesity Epidemic

Almost 60% of Canadians are now Almost 60% of Canadians are now overweight (BMI 25-30), a huge overweight (BMI 25-30), a huge increase over several decadesincrease over several decades

In CB, about 2/3 are obese (BMI over In CB, about 2/3 are obese (BMI over 30) or overweight30) or overweight

Obesity Rates in 7-13 yr olds tripled Obesity Rates in 7-13 yr olds tripled 81-9681-96

And I could go on and onAnd I could go on and on

Obesity isn’t all it’s cracked up Obesity isn’t all it’s cracked up to beto be

Diabetics – 15X higher ovrwt, 40X if obeseDiabetics – 15X higher ovrwt, 40X if obese Arthritis – 4X higher obeseArthritis – 4X higher obese Hypertension – 75% of HTN is wt relatedHypertension – 75% of HTN is wt related Heart disease – 3-5X increaseHeart disease – 3-5X increase Cancers – Cancers – kidney, endometrial, breast, prostate, ?colonkidney, endometrial, breast, prostate, ?colon

Stroke – 2-3X increaseStroke – 2-3X increase Kidney failure - 2X ovrwt, 4-7X if obeseKidney failure - 2X ovrwt, 4-7X if obese

SICK CARESICK CAREIs not the same as Health Is not the same as Health

CareCare

Medical Solutions to ObesityMedical Solutions to Obesity

Educate RE diet and activity – “you Educate RE diet and activity – “you should watch your diet and exercise should watch your diet and exercise more”more”

Drugs Drugs SurgerySurgery

Focus is on TREATMENT, not Focus is on TREATMENT, not preventionprevention

Obesity is a Obesity is a SYMPTOM, SYMPTOM,

not a not a diseasedisease

How do we stop the How do we stop the obesity trend?obesity trend?

Education programs have been Education programs have been ineffectiveineffective

Temporary effectsTemporary effects ““go to the gym” – high attritiongo to the gym” – high attrition

Sport programs have been ineffectiveSport programs have been ineffective Expense, time for parentsExpense, time for parents High attrition for adults, some sports High attrition for adults, some sports

“unsuitable” for lifelong exercise“unsuitable” for lifelong exercise

Health PromotionHealth Promotion

Lifestyle change can be facilitated Lifestyle change can be facilitated through a combination of efforts to through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behaviour enhance awareness, change behaviour and create environments that support and create environments that support good health practices.  good health practices.  Of the three, Of the three, supportive environments will supportive environments will probably have the greatest probably have the greatest impact in producing lasting impact in producing lasting changechange".  ".  (American Journal of Health (American Journal of Health Promotion, 1989,3,3,5)Promotion, 1989,3,3,5)

Change the Change the Environment, Environment, Change the Change the

PeoplePeople

ObesogenicObesogenicEnvironmentEnvironment

ss

Suburbanization

Commuting makes senseCommuting makes senseDriverDriver

10 minutes to work 10 minutes to work each wayeach way

10 minutes to gym each 10 minutes to gym each way 3 times per wk way 3 times per wk

Exercise bike 1hr 3X/wkExercise bike 1hr 3X/wk 5hrs 40 min total 5hrs 40 min total

commute/exercisecommute/exercise 2000 calories burned2000 calories burned About 365 cal/hrAbout 365 cal/hr

Bike CommuterBike Commuter 20 minutes to work 20 minutes to work

each wayeach way 3hrs 20 min per wk 3hrs 20 min per wk

total total commute/exercisecommute/exercise

2350 calories 2350 calories burnedburned

About 700 cal/hrAbout 700 cal/hr

An opportunity in CBRM?An opportunity in CBRM?

Median Distance for Errands is 3km, and Median Distance for Errands is 3km, and 5km to work (approx. 20min bike ride)5km to work (approx. 20min bike ride)

47% want to cycle more47% want to cycle more 61% said they would cycle to work if 61% said they would cycle to work if

there “were a dedicated bike lane which there “were a dedicated bike lane which would take me to my workplace in 30 would take me to my workplace in 30 min. or less at a comfortable pacemin. or less at a comfortable pace

90% support creation of bike lanes90% support creation of bike lanes

Does it work?Does it work?

SydneySydney Fattest* Canadian Fattest* Canadian

citycity Showcase for Showcase for

urban sprawlurban sprawl No AT No AT

infrastructureinfrastructure

VancouverVancouver Fittest Canadian Fittest Canadian

citycity Sprawl, but more Sprawl, but more

controlled (no new controlled (no new highways)highways)

Lots of effort in ATLots of effort in AT

Other Countries: Sweden, Denmark, Holland – very high modal share of AT, lots of infrastructure!!

Obesity Rates HALF

Energy Usage per capita 33% less (with comparable standard

of living)

Rate your communityRate your community

8 to 80?8 to 80? High heels?High heels? Suits?Suits? Percentage of lycra?Percentage of lycra? Is there a demand yet?Is there a demand yet?

Any Questions?Any Questions?