the weight of the neighborhood

In yet another example of how humans are influenced by their surroundings, researchers announced that obesity rates correlate with the type of neighborhood people live in. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers looked at long term residents of several neighborhoods. What they found was that people who live in neighborhoods where walking is discouraged (i.e. your typical suburbia) tend to weigh more. Other studies have found the same trends, people in suburbia are heavier than city-dwellers, and so while suburbia may be "safer" from acute violence, it is worse for you in the long run.



The new study also found that environments that promote social interaction and score high on esthetics are better for women, but worse for men. Women living in such neighborhoods are slimmer, whereas men are fatter. Social activities likely draw women out of the house and engage them in physical activity. For men, on the other hand, it seems social interactions lead to drinking and barbecuing instead. The latter is my take on the study, but it seems plausible and I have some circumstantial evidence to back it up. I often run on a bike path through a suburban neighborhood and often meet groups of women, many with baby strollers, all engaged in a sort of outdoor group aerobics. While I would not go as far as call that serious exercise, it certainly beats sitting at home. Not surprisingly, all these women drive to the trailhead with their SUV's, where they "unpack" their baby strollers and get ready to work up a sweat.

I have also noticed that while men often exercise alone or with a friend, women are rarely seen alone and most often appear in groups. Of the cyclists riding Marin, or the East Bay hills, men tend to ride alone or with one friend, while women ride in small packs. Solitary women are a minority, whereas solitary men are the rule. Men do ride in packs, but only on weekends it seems.

At several of the local clubs, women spend mornings doing group aerobics and other group related pool activities. You rarely, if ever see men do this. Whenever the men at the club have a "social" they barbecue and drink beer. Otherwise, they exercise or swim alone. Although the gender issue is interesting, the main point here is not to highlight gender differences, but to stress the importance of context on all people.

All the available evidence points to the fact that we are much more influenced by our peers and surroundings than we would like to admit. It appears extremely difficult for people to deviate from these local norms for any extended period of time. Subtle and at times not so subtle social pressure is likely responsible. If you are a fitness buff and you move to a "nice" neighborhood, where everyone drives an SUV and mows their lawn military-haircut style, beware. Chances are you will be corrupted, and sooner than you think.

I have often advocated that only way to produce lasting change is to change your environment. You need to find another setting where doing the things that you like doing comes natural to you. Let the environment "force" you to walk, bicycle or run. Such gentle forcing will not be perceived as such and may become pleasurable instead. The neighborhood invites you to do physical activity.

In these settings you will be successful without unnecessary effort. Swimming upstream is not something humans are very good at. That is why diets don't work. To lose weight you need to change your life-style. For most people that means you will have to physically move to a new home, a new neighborhood, etc. A neighborhood where everyone is slim. If you can find one of those that is.