Smart Growth SavesBy Reducing Healthcare Costs
Smart Growth Saves Transportation-related Health Costs
Source: Urban Design 4 Health and the American Public Health Association, February 20102
Smart Growth SavesPollution-related Health Costs
A 23% decrease in driving in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics resulted in a 42% decline in asthma-related hospitalizations of children.
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Smart Growth SavesHealth Costs From Traffic Fatalities
For every 1% increase in the level of compact development:
• all-mode fatality rates fell by 1.49% • pedestrian fatality rates fell by 1.47% to 3.56%
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Smart Growth SavesHealth Costs from
Obesity and Heart Disease• Areas of sprawl development are more likely
to exhibit higher rates of obesity and hypertension, regardless of gender, age, education levels, smoking and eating habits.
• Obesity accounts for 9% of total U.S. health care spending, amounting to $395 per year per person in health care expenses.
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Smart Growth Saves MoneyBy Letting People Walk More
Source: Urban Design 4 Health and the American Public Health Association, February 2010
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The percentage of overweight children, aged6 to 19 years, has TRIPLED in the United States since 1963.
Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics
Smart Growth Saves MoneyBy Keeping Kids Healthy
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Smart Growth Saves MoneyBy Keeping Kids Active
• Children in neighborhoods lacking access to sidewalks or walking paths, parks or playgrounds, or recreation or community centers had 20-45% higher odds of becoming obese or overweight compared to children who had access to these amenities.
• This impact was particularly strong for younger children (ages 10-11) and for girls. Girls ages 10-11 living in neighborhoods with the fewest amenities had 121-276% higher odds of being obese or overweight.
Source: White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity: Report to the President. May 20108
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1985
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
9
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1986
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
10
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1987
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
11
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1988
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
12
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1989
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
13
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14%
14
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1991
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
15
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1992
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
16
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1993
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
17
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1994
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
18
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1995
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
19
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1996
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19%
20
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1997
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
21
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1998
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
22
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1999
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
23
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2000
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20
24
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2001
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
25
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2002
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
26
Obesity* Trends Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2003
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
27
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2004
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%
28
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2005
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
29
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2006
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
30
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2007
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
31
Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2008
(*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
32