We learned this week that almost 60% of New Yorkers are overweight or obese. According to the NY Health Department, 1 in 4 people in our state are obese (24% in Monroe County). 36% in the state are overweight. And New York ranks second in the nation for medical costs that are related to that obesity. That adds up to billions of dollars.
Governor Cuomo said the obesity rate in our state has reached ‘epidemic’ levels. As part of National Public Health Week (#GetFitNYS), he and Health Commissioner Howard Zucker are participating in events around the state this week to educate the public on ways to reduce the rising numbers of obesity. And my hope is that creating more walkable communities and safe pedestrian and bike passageways will be part of the conversation.
Across the nation, climbing obesity rates are a shocking reality. There is already a national conversation about improving access to real food to help consumers of all incomes make better choices for what they put in their bodies. Likewise, there is a movement to get people to exercise regularly and get up and move more as part of their daily routines.
A large part of the problem is simply caused by our more sedentary lifestyles. We sit at our desks more for work, we spend more time in front of a screen in our free time and we spend a lot of time in our cars. In many communities, there isn’t an option to get out and walk safely. We have designed a nation for cars, instead of the people who drive them.
Providing safe places for people to walk (and for the love of Pete, please build sidewalks) and bike, that connect communities and give people something to walk and bike to are a vital part of the solution
The mayor of Oklahoma City was so dismayed by the obesity in his own city that he made it a mission to create a city and community where people could actually get out of their cars and walk, bike and recreate as part of their daily lives. And obesity is spreading. The UAE, for example, recently recognized the need for more walkability to combat its growing obesity rates.
We know Americans walk, bike and use mass transit the least of anyone in the world. And that is having an dire impact on our health. Providing safe places for people to walk (and for the love of Pete, please build sidewalks) and bike, that connect communities and give people something to walk and bike to are a vital part of the solution.
[Photo credit: StayHealthy.com.]
The mayor of Oklahoma City was so dismayed by the obesity in his own city that he made it a mission to create a city and community where people could actually get out of their cars and walk, bike and recreate as part of their daily lives. And obesity is spreading. The UAE, for example, recently recognized the need for more walkability to combat its growing obesity rates.
We know Americans walk, bike and use mass transit the least of anyone in the world. And that is having an dire impact on our health. Providing safe places for people to walk (and for the love of Pete, please build sidewalks) and bike, that connect communities and give people something to walk and bike to are a vital part of the solution.
[Photo credit: StayHealthy.com.]
Written by: Renee
Tags: new york obesity, obesity rates ny, obesity rochester, rochester obesity, walkability,pedestrian safety, rochester walkable neighborhoods, obesity monroe county, monroe county obesity,
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