Obesity Affecting Americans from the Cities to the Suburbs

Life in the suburbs has its perks, from shopping malls to backyard barbecues. On the flipside, everything is so spread out that a car is essentially mandatory, and the creature comforts of larger homes foster a sedentary lifestyle. With the rising obesity rates across the country, residents of many suburban communities are now feeling the effects of being stuck behind the wheel and are hoping to implement new strategies to battle the bulge.
Studies have shown that where you live affects the amount of exercise you get each day, as well as your waistline. Some attribute the rise in obesity in the suburbs to the fact that the populace is forced to drive everywhere instead of making routine trips to the dry cleaners or the grocery store on foot. Even those who are willing to ride a bike to get around may put themselves in danger, since the roads often don't have bicycle lanes. It's easier for city-dwellers to walk to work or to the store - in many urban areas a car is more of a burden than a convenience - and ultimately they burn more calories just by performing daily tasks.
Even with the increased opportunities for exercise, however, the rate of obesity is up across the board, not just in the suburban communities. Today, two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
"The increase in the number of people seeking weight loss surgery mirrors the rising rate of obesity both in urban and suburban areas," says Dr. David Provost, whose Denton weight loss surgery practice serves patients from urban Dallas as well as the surrounding suburbs.
In the city and the suburbs as well as in rural areas, getting adequate exercise is one of the most important strategies to counter the increase in obesity nationwide. City life can directly impact childhood obesity, in particular, because studies show that children living near busy streets are less likely to play outside and could be at a higher risk of packing on the pounds. Rather than run the risk of playing or bicycling in traffic clogged areas, many children choose to stay shut inside and watch TV or play video games after school and on the weekends.
To reduce the risk of their kids becoming obese, parents should encourage kids to engage in daily physical activity instead of spending hours inside sitting in front of the TV and the computer, experts advise. They should also make time to be physically active with their children to set an example of a healthy lifestyle and keep their own weight in check. Even seemingly simple solutions, like walking your dog for 30 minutes after work could lead to a healthier lifestyle as well as allowing an opportunity to blow off steam after a stressful day at the office.
"You don't have to make extreme changes," notes Dr. Provost, who primarily sees patients seeking gastric bypass in Dallas and the surrounding region. "Cutting down on fatty foods and processed foods and walking even 30 to 60 minutes each day can help you manage your weight," he adds.
City planning also may play an important role in the fight against obesity. Recently there has been a rise in planning initiatives and funding for bicycle and walking trails as a way to encourage people to become more exercise friendly. Programs designed to create more walk-able and bike-able neighborhoods in both urban and suburban neighborhoods while promoting more physical activity within the community could be a huge step in combating the obesity epidemic.

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