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This is a good point - when eating out I don't think people realize how many calories are in these prepared meals. Even walking to the restaurant usually isn't enough to offset these calories.
It's not so much calories but the quality of food consumed. The processed food with its fiber stripped out has high caloric but low nutritional value. Our diets are also pretty protein intensive. No, this is not an urban/suburban issue. Food deserts bereft of grocery options are the issue however, so in that sense this is an urban problem.
To return to urban planning, the shame of our recent history is the closure of the South Central Community Garden in L.A. For over a decade this was probably the largest urban farm in the nation, but developers decided instead of a viable business doing urgent community work that it...should be something else. And they offered an 2 acre soccer field as a token gesture. The farmers did relocate to a smaller plot offered by the city, but talk about shortsightedness. Question: Do we turn farms like this into buildings?
South L.A. residents are forming a food co-op too, though. They have events and, locals, please support them. I hope that endorsement doesn't violate terms of service but it's relevant.
It's not so much calories but the quality of food consumed. The processed food with its fiber stripped out has high caloric but low nutritional value. Our diets are also pretty protein intensive. No, this is not an urban/suburban issue. Food deserts bereft of grocery options are the issue however, so in that sense this is an urban problem.
To return to urban planning, the shame of our recent history is the closure of the South Central Community Garden in L.A. For over a decade this was probably the largest urban farm in the nation, but developers decided instead of a viable business doing urgent community work that it...should be something else. And they offered an 2 acre soccer field as a token gesture. The farmers did relocate to a smaller plot offered by the city, but talk about shortsightedness. Question: Do we turn farms like this into buildings?
South L.A. residents are forming a food co-op too, though. They have events and, locals, please support them. I hope that endorsement doesn't violate terms of service but it's relevant.
Yes more urban farming in South Central will go a long way to helping alleviate the food-desert issue in South LA. There are quite a few open lots throughout the area that can serve as farms, plus the built-nature of South LA with converted SFHs provides open space that can be used for small gardens at individual addresses. It is a shame to hear about the South Central Community Garden, but it seems like overall the movement is gaining traction.
Local politicians should also put pressure on major retailers like Ralph's to more evenly distribute their higher-quality stores throughout the region. I don't mean that the local government should force them to relocate and open in South LA. Instead what they should do is ensure the quality of produce, meats, dairy is equal whether the location is in Brentwood or Watts. Another way is to incentivize them to change low-quality discount Food 4 Less outlets into the standard Ralph's brand, or at least improve the quality of the Food 4 Less outlets.
I think the rise in 2 income households and single income single parent households probably didn't help since it means families have less time for cooking and grocery shopping. That means they're probably eating cheap processed food and fast food (and most sit down restaurants aren't much better - esp with the huge portions) more often. It also means less time to be active with their kids or watch over them while they play or walk them to school. Video games and computers/internet are a huge temptation (more so than TV imo) that will draw kids and adults away from a healthier lifestyle and their rise corresponds much better to the rise in obesity than the rise of suburbia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nei
Except memph wasn't suggesting anything kids in the inner city vs suburbs, just that eating habits and physical activity levels have changed, which part don't you think is true? Nor was he even agreeing that suburbia was a cause for increased obesity.
Where to start? While all of these themes come up in pop culture, e.g. message boards, and in pop literature, most of them do not stand up to scrutiny per the research. The vast majority of the kids in the pediatric practice where I work are involved with sports, often starting in elementary school or even before, as are the kids of my friends and acquaintances. The obestiy "epidemic" and that is in quotes b/c that's what the media calls it, but that's not really what it is, is centered in the inner cities among people of poverty.
As a mom, I get annoyed with people blaming families of 2 working parents, b/c which parent was it that stayed home with the kids when just one parent worked? For the vast, vast, vast, VAST majority, it was the dad. Even today, with all these supposed "stay at home dads", most stay at home parents are female. Also, I have been a public health nurse in inner city areas, and many parents are not working at all.
Yes more urban farming in South Central will go a long way to helping alleviate the food-desert issue in South LA. There are quite a few open lots throughout the area that can serve as farms, plus the built-nature of South LA with converted SFHs provides open space that can be used for small gardens at individual addresses. It is a shame to hear about the South Central Community Garden, but it seems like overall the movement is gaining traction.
Local politicians should also put pressure on major retailers like Ralph's to more evenly distribute their higher-quality stores throughout the region. I don't mean that the local government should force them to relocate and open in South LA. Instead what they should do is ensure the quality of produce, meats, dairy is equal whether the location is in Brentwood or Watts. Another way is to incentivize them to change low-quality discount Food 4 Less outlets into the standard Ralph's brand, or at least improve the quality of the Food 4 Less outlets.
I know there's a HEAL Zone Initiative (sponsored by Kaiser) around downtown. They're interested in community partnerships to educate and extend overall health, including exercise and nutrition. Our local program is focused, in terms of food deserts, on getting cornershop merchants to sell fresh produce. Certainly, major grocers would be a kind of Godzilla footprint to solve food access issues, but corner stores emphasizing good diets would go further. And create independent economic vitality.
You should see some of the visual presentations. A typical store sign says: CIGARETTES, LIQUOR, WINE, BEER, LOTTO, LOTTERY, MAGAZINES, food. In that order.
BTW, there are issues of converting empty lots into gardens. Cleanup, if it was an industrial site, and water are the big barriers. City planning needs to create an intentional plan to create, market and support these enterprises. They simply cannot happen spontaneously.
Where to start? While all of these themes come up in pop culture, e.g. message boards, and in pop literature, most of them do not stand up to scrutiny per the research. The vast majority of the kids in the pediatric practice where I work are involved with sports, often starting in elementary school or even before, as are the kids of my friends and acquaintances. The obestiy "epidemic" and that is in quotes b/c that's what the media calls it, but that's not really what it is, is centered in the inner cities among people of poverty.
Ok.
Though, as to the bolded is it specifically in inner cities or just wherever there is poverty? For example, are rural poor communities any different? For example, see black obesity rates on this map:
If anything southern states where the black population is more rural, have slightly higher obesity rates. Rural southern states have a higher white obesity:
The upscale urban community likely attracts more active yuppie types. Other communities cater to lazier fat people. I doubt it has anything to do with urban planning as opposed to behavior. I live in a suburban community in San Diego and almost all the kids and parents are very fit because fitness and sports and healthy eating are stressed. Not a "walkable" community in any way.
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