Date post: | 22-Feb-2016 |
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Supporting Active,Healthy Community Design in [name of place]
[date, place of presentation]
Heart disease and stroke
• 1.5 million Canadians living with the effects
• Canada’s leading cause of death for both
men and women
• One death every seven minutes
• $22 billion annual in direct and indirect costs
Promoting Heart Health
• Up to 80% of premature heart disease
and stroke could be prevented by reducing
risk factors
• Physical inactivity is one of the most
common risk factors for heart disease
and stroke in Canada
How much physical activity do we need?
• Adults: 30 to 60 minutes a day*
• Children: 90 minutes per day*
*most days of the week
Physical Inactivity; Overweight/Obesity
• Percent not physically active enough:
– 51% of Canadian adults
– 91% of Canadian children and youth
• Percent overweight or obese:
– 60% of Canadian adults
– 26% of Canadian children and youth
Obesity Trends Among Canadian Adults – CCHS, 2004
Source: M Tjepkema & M Shields,
Statistics Canada. June 2005
Comparison of Adult Obesity in 21 Industrialized Countries
Prevalence of Overweight 10-16 Year Oldsfrom 34 Industrialized Countries
The role of the built environment
• Our local environment can encourage…
– Walking or cycling to school, work, shopping instead of driving
– Other active travel (e.g., skating)
– Playing outside (more active play, less screen time)
– Active forms of recreation
= “active, healthy living”
Active, Healthy Community Design
• Mixed land use
• Higher density
• Amenities close by
Active, Healthy Community Design
• Appealing
streetscapes
• Connectivity
(continuous and
direct routes)
• Streets designed for
walking and cycling
• Accessible, efficient
public transit
• Safe routes to school
Active, Healthy Community Design
• Outdoor play areas
• Recreational facilities
Benefits of Active, Healthy Community Design
• Community physical activity rates
• Obesity levels
• Improved air quality
• Quality of life
• Other benefits:
– mental health, social health, traffic safety, noise
levels, water quality, energy savings, cost
savings, community economic development
Growing recognition
• Public opinion
• Health organizations
• Health research
• Urban Planners
• Healthy built environment and active planning initiatives
• Innovative property developments emphasizing active, healthy design
Communities responding
• Improving connectivity of walking and cycling networks
• Active transportation strategies
• Public transit system improvements (e.g., light rail)
• Recreational infrastructure
• Active, healthy design into new developments
• Urban planning guidelines
Not yet the norm
• Only 12% of Canadians’ home-based trips (e.g., grocery store work or school) on foot or bicycle
• CMHC study showed suburban developments still generally car-oriented with poor walkability
• Many Canadians do not live within easy walking distance of a grocery store and other amenities –e.g., Waterloo study:– 71% of the urban population in the region do not live
within walking distance of a large grocery store
– 47% are not within walking distance of a large grocery store, retail food outlet or convenience store
Where will we go from here?
• Local decisions shape the environment…
– Official community plans
– Application for development, redevelopment, zoning
change, etc.
– Transportation planning
– Public transportation initiatives
– Active transportation infrastructure (sidewalks, trails,
bike paths)
– Parks and recreation budgets
The role of the public
• Explore the issues
• Try the active, healthy neighbourhood design checklist
• Write/speak to decision makers
• Respond to public consultations
• Attend meetings
• Talk with neighbours, community groups
• Volunteer on an advisory committee
Discussion
• How well does the built environment in [name of
community] support active, healthy living?
• What community planning initiatives are underway
or coming up? What active, healthy community
design issues are involved?
• How can we take action to support active, healthy
community design in [name of community]?