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Don't think the OP said location was the only factor. Just because income and education have more impact doesn't mean location has none.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cisco kid
I don't think modern suburbs are ideal for a healthy lifestyle, but neither are very dense skyscraper cities.
Skyscraper cities are more walkable, but also much noisier and more stressful due to the super high concentration of car traffic and people traffic that is created by very tall buildings. You have more inactive sedentary lifestyle in the suburbs, but the noise and stress of the big city isn't good for you either. And outside of the urban core or downtown area, most city dwellers live in autocentric suburb-like neighborhoods anyways that tend to be not very walkable. Modern suburb versus modern skyscraper city? Neither is ideal.
There is a lot of neighborhood types between skyscraper and sprawling modern suburbs......
I am a Whole Foods fan. They are "healthier" than other stores in the fact that there are fewer additives across the board, but not everything is healthy there, obviously. But where they really excel is in providing a pleasant shopping experience. It is not stressful to shop at Whole Foods (compared to Safeway and the really good indie grocery store in Berkeley where fights break out over parking spaces). On the whole it is pricy, but some stuff is priced well. The meat prices are not so far off the other stores for similar meats, and they do put meats on sale. Produce is a rip off, and I only buy there if it is on sale for a good price or I am desperate for a banana or an onion.*
*Yes I have been to Wegmans, but it is a small regional chain and not everyone has access to that. It is a really nice store though.
Back more directly on topic, obesity is a pretty complicated issue and we should take a more multi-faceted approach to make out communities healthier. It doesn't hurt to softly encourage people to build more activity in their day, no matter what there BMI is.
That may be true in your WF experience, but not in mine. The store in Boulder has a parking situation similar to what you describe above about the store in Berkeley. The store in Superior has ample parking, but it's always, and I mean always crowded. We were there on Thanksgiving Day and it was crowded.
Yes, obesity is complicated. That's why I have problems with these studies that try to link it to where a person lives. It's an individual thing. You can live in a super-walkable neighborhood and never walk anywhere! It's your own personal lifestyle, among other things.
Yes, obesity is complicated. That's why I have problems with these studies that try to link it to where a person lives. It's an individual thing. You can live in a super-walkable neighborhood and never walk anywhere! It's your own personal lifestyle, among other things.
The most walkable neighborhoods generally have some parking inconveniences. Many times, it's hard or impossible not to walk. Even in the town I live in, if I want to go to the center of town there's often a slight disadvantage of driving over walking though I live quite close to the center.
The most walkable neighborhoods generally have some parking inconveniences. Many times, it's hard or impossible not to walk. Even in the town I live in, if I want to go to the center of town there's often a slight disadvantage of driving over walking though I live quite close to the center.
Which means nothing to the individual. Some people choose to drive no matter how inconvenient parking is made. Just talk to all the "planners" in Boulder. (Not referring to those actually paid to be city planners.) For decades, they've tried to make it more inconvenient to park so that people will be encouraged to drive. It hasn't worked yet.
Which means nothing to the individual. Some people choose to drive no matter how inconvenient parking is made. Just talk to all the "planners" in Boulder. (Not referring to those actually paid to be city planners.) For decades, they've tried to make it more inconvenient to park so that people will be encouraged to drive. It hasn't worked yet.
If parking is inconvenient enough, you can't park immediately by your destination. You have to walk. Boulder is nowhere as dense as the places I'm describing. In any case, people who might not walk normally will walk if it's the more convenient option unless they really want to avoid walking.
If parking is inconvenient enough, you can't park immediately by your destination. You have to walk. Boulder is nowhere as dense as the places I'm describing. In any case, people who might not walk normally will walk if it's the more convenient option unless they really want to avoid walking.
We can argue this back and forth forever. So maybe you "have" to walk an extra block or two. Do you know how few calories you'll use up doing that? Not enough to have whole milk instead of skim in your latte (since we're talking about Boulder)! It hasn't worked here. If you totally eliminate parking, people will just quit coming. They'll find someplace else to shop.
We can argue this back and forth forever. So maybe you "have" to walk an extra block or two. Do you know how few calories you'll use up doing that? Not enough to have whole milk instead of skim in your latte (since we're talking about Boulder)! It hasn't worked here. If you totally eliminate parking, people will just quit coming. They'll find someplace else to shop.
First, I said nothing about the calories involved. I was only arguing that you could live in a super-walkable neighborhood and never walk. It's not that realistic of a combination.
I'm not referring to Boulder. I'm referring to places like Boston, San Francisco, and yes, New York City. For a commercial area it's sometimes more than just an extra block or two. A large number of shoppers aren't driving there, so only some will quit. [Not saying that's still good for business]
First, I said nothing about the calories involved. I was only arguing that you could live in a super-walkable neighborhood and never walk. It's not that realistic of a combination.
I'm not referring to Boulder. I'm referring to places like Boston, San Francisco, and yes, New York City. For a commercial area it's sometimes more than just an extra block or two. A large number of shoppers aren't driving there, so only some will quit. [Not saying that's still good for business]
I think you missed my point with the calories, which are relevant b/c this is an obesity thread, and we're discussing an article which allegedly "proves" that living, yes, merely living, in a walkable neighborhood results in lower obesity levels. But, oh well.
Do we always have to talk about Boston, San Francisco, and NYC? Oh, and Portland? (Not mentioned) Can't we talk about Boulder once in a while. They're the ones who've been trying to eliminate driving for decades.
That may be true in your WF experience, but not in mine. The store in Boulder has a parking situation similar to what you describe above about the store in Berkeley. The store in Superior has ample parking, but it's always, and I mean always crowded. We were there on Thanksgiving Day and it was crowded.
Yes, obesity is complicated. That's why I have problems with these studies that try to link it to where a person lives. It's an individual thing. You can live in a super-walkable neighborhood and never walk anywhere! It's your own personal lifestyle, among other things.
My WF is busy, but there are 2 lots. One with about 35 spaces and another with 200+ up the hill on the roof. It cracks me up how many people are circling the small lot when the big lot generally has plenty of spots (Thanksgiving excepted). We also have about 70 bike parking spots at my Whole Foods, and I bike there as well.
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