News - Hypertension Week of September 7, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 36

Study: Urban Sprawl Contributes to High Blood Pressure

Urban sprawl contributes to chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, according to a new study conducted by University of Maryland researchers.

University of Maryland professor Reid Ewing, a researcher for the university's National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education, studied information regarding 200,000 Americans and 448 counties in the United States that was collected in a national survey by the Centers for Disease Control.

Ewing and his colleagues found that people in sprawling communities are an average of six pounds heavier and have a higher body mass index than residents of compact areas.

"In sprawling counties...the only routes (between destinations) may be high speed arteries that are unpleasant or unsafe for biking or walking... People in sprawl areas drive more," the report noted.

The report recommends looking at Europe, where daily activities are more accessible by walking or biking, as a model for American communities.

Other sources: University of Maryland