Press Release

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For Immediate Release

FROM: Local Government Commission

CONTACT: Michele Kelso, (916) 448-1198 308, mkelso@lgc.org

Health Professionals Check In on Land Use Issues / Walkability

It's been said that "fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly," and people need to walk to stay happy and healthy. Unfortunately, fewer people are walking than ever before. This problem and its solution will be addressed at a conference in San Diego to be held June 27 and 28 at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Recent research by the US Centers for Disease Control has revealed that physical inactivity and poor nutrition are responsible for 300,000 premature deaths each year, second only to tobacco use. These two lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and nutrition) contribute to increased rates of many diseases including, obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, and certain cancers. In California, the number of obese people has increased from 9.8% in 1990 to 21.9% in 2001. San Diego actually has the third highest percentage of overweight adults in the nation! This is costing our counties money. According to the CA State Department of Health Services, the related health care cost to due to physical inactivity and poor diet in California is about $24.6 billion annually.

Evidence is mounting that auto-oriented land use patterns are in-part, responsible for the increasing levels of physical inactivity. Our current land use-patterns simply do not enable people to walk or transport themselves using non-motorized means! In essence, we have designed physical activity out of our lives.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reports that in 2001, 26.6 % of Californians complained that they had no time to exercise. The Foundation holds that an efficient and cost-effective solution is to combat health issues related to a sedentary population by designing communities so that walking or biking can be incorporated into the routine of daily life. Indeed, research is showing that people who live in more walkable communities do get more physical activity, and polls show a large number of people want that option. As a result, county and city health officials are increasingly supportive of improving community design.

Even at the highest levels of government, support for communities that promote physical activity is rising. The President's Healthier US Initiative recently announced that they will provide financial support to public-private partnerships at the community level for programs that enable persons to adopt healthy, physically active lifestyles.

Among the special sessions addressing health at the conference --

During the afternoon of June 27, Tina Zenzola, noted Public Health expert , will lead a "Primer for Public Health Professionals." This session provides public health professionals with a rationale for why the built environment is a public health issue, how to design for healthier communities, and how public health professionals can play a role in the local land use and transportation planning process. Specific sub-sessions include:

Impacts of the Built Environment on Health, Designing for Healthy and Walkable Neighborhoods, and The Role of Public Health in Community Design.

>From 2 to 3 PM June 27, Andy Hamilton, Specialist for the San Diego Air Pollution Control District will lead a walking tour for public health professionals, teaching them to assess the walkability of their communities. According to Hamilton, "Since automobiles are the biggest polluters, the Air District has spent a lot of time helping cities become friendlier to less-polluting modes -- walking, biking, and public transit. At this year's LGC conference, we don't expect public health practitioners to become planning experts, but we want them to have the basic tools so they can help us make the case for walkable, bikeable communities."

Between 3 and 5, Alex Kelter, Chief of Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control for the CA State Department of Health Services will join other professionals in a workshops addressing the multi-disciplinary connections to walkable communities.

The Planning and Building More Livable Communities Conference is presented by the Local Government Commission. Sponsors and major funders include: the California Department of Health Services, California Department of Transportation, Irvine Foundation, Southern California Gas Company, U.S. EPA Region IX Office, Lewis Operating Corp. and the U.C. Berkeley Traffic Safety Center.

For more information about the program agenda, speakers and special features, visit the conference web site at: http://lgc.digitalgear.com/events1/detail.tpl?cart=312384069939658&_sku=31195221881485

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