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Promoting Physical Activity and Health by Urban Design Dear Member of the Boston Community: We would like to invite you to attend a Boston-area conference on Tuesday, November 4th at the Federal Reserve Bank titled "Promoting Physical Activity and Health by Urban Design." The conference is sponsored by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Harvard Design School in partnership with the Charles River Conservancy, Boston Greenspace Alliance, WalkBoston, Boston Society of Architects, and the South Bay Harbor Trail. Funding has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Harvard School of Public Health with special thanks to the Federal Reserve Bank. As you know, obesity has suddenly been recognized as one of the most important public health problems in America. Sixty five percent of Americans are now overweight or obese and the population’s skyrocketing increase in weight shows no sign of abating. The statistics are also dramatic in the Boston area where parts of the city are 6 times more likely to have diabetes, 3 times more likely to die of diabetes, 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma, 1.5 times more likely to die of asthma, twice as likely to be obese, and 1.5 times more likely to not get exercise compared to other parts. Also, people living in the most sprawling suburban areas of the U.S. are likely to weigh 6 more pounds than people who live in compact neighborhoods. While changes to diet can help reduce weight, better health can also be accomplished and quality of life improved by combining changes in diet with regular physical activity. Walking and bicycling, along with in-line skating and jogging, are affordable forms of physical activity that can be accomplished close to home and with little expenditure. Therefore, to facilitate physical activity for all populations, communities could provide sidewalks for walking, safe side-of-the-road facilities for bicycling, and separate off road dedicated multi-use paths for walking, bicycling, jogging, and in-line skating. Though the nation has design models for rail trails or paths beside water, there are few design innovations in the U.S. for incorporating multi-use paths in already built cities. The conference, therefore, will focus on how infrastructure can be changed to bring physical activity opportunities close to where people live and incorporate exercise as a routine part of the day. Related Link The participants will be given a research document that depicts the variety worldwide of innovative ways to incorporate multi-use paths in already built cities. After the morning speakers, the afternoon will be devoted to discussion sessions to address Safe Routes to School, Urban Issues, Suburban Issues, Senior Issues, Campus Travel Issues, and Boston-area Greenways (Rose Kennedy Greenway, Somerville Community Path). The afternoon groups will:
The expectation for the conference is that the participants can begin implementation of a vision for the Boston area that would maximally promote physical activity. The lessons learned in our area, with its winding streets, groups of low income individuals who currently have few physical activity resources nearby, and sprawling suburban communities could be valuable to others in Massachusetts and the nation. We hope you will be able to participate in the conference. Please RSVP using the web form or to Anne Lusk at 617-432-7076 or AnneLusk@hsph.harvard.edu. We would need to know if you can attend a week, or at the latest 72 hours, in advance to then give the names to the Federal Reserve Bank for their security check. Please bring a government-issued photo ID. If you cannot do so, please contact Anne Lusk to make alternative arrangements for admission. Please RSVP early because space is limited. Also, please RSVP only if you do plan to attend so we can determine the catering. This conference is by invitation with no conference fee to better guarantee an equitable cross section of Boston’s population. If you feel someone would add value to the conference, please suggest their name and address. In advance, we thank you for helping make the Boston area healthier. Sincerely, Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H. Web Site: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthdesign/ Harvard School of Public Health is dedicated to advancing the public's health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 300 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 800-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world. Programs and projects range from the molecular biology of AIDS vaccines to the epidemiology of cancer; from risk analysis to violence prevention; from maternal and children's health to quality of care measurement; from health care management to international health and human rights. Return to News, Events,
and Publications Copyright, 2003, President and Fellows of Harvard College |
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