ATTRIBUTE #8 - Because of attributes #1,#5 and #6, suburbia creates a relatively sedentary lifestyle, which has serious health implications for us individually and for our society. What have the suburbs got to do with being active or not? ![]() Service industries continue to grow for activities that people used to do themselves such as car washing, house cleaning, dog walking and lawn mowing. We have easy access to prepared meals, dishwashers and remote controls. We have the internet and computer games. We shop for recreation. There are benefits to all this, but the downside is that many people have lost the time and energy, and even the reason, to be active. The term 'Active living' refers to opportunities for incorporating physical activity into the routines of daily life as well as for sport and recreation. Examples of active living include; walking or cycling with children to school; walking, cycling or catching public transport to work or replacing short car trips to corner shops and parks by walking or cycling.
connection with the built-environment The location and the way we live has a LOT to do with how active we are. The proximity of our house to where we need to be, significantly influences how will travel to get there. Could I walk there? Can I do other things on the way there? To put it simply, most people are less physically active than they used to be. Only half the NSW population meets the recommended level of at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week required to obtain health benefits.
So lets turn this to a positive and put it simply : Incorporating activity in your day is good for you. SO WHY AREN'T WE MORE ACTIVE?
At Shaping Suburbia, we are interested in the first two of these three factors. The physical environment (i.e. the built environment) and the social environment that is in part created by the built-environment that we live in.
BENEFITS OF AN ACTIVE LIFE
why does activity matter so much?
Source : www.walkscore.com
THE COSTS OF INACTIVITY
Source : Olshansky SJ et al. A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st century. New England Journal of Medicine. 2005; 352:1138-1145
CONNECTING INACTIVITY TO HEALTH
Source : http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002760245_sprawlfat24m.html
DEATHS DUE TO INACTIVITY
|