Less space for cars and more for active transportation = less diabetes. And less of these horrific, humanity-has-no-hope scenes.

Communities with less walkability and ride-ability? Yep. Those people have more diabetes.

Forgive my lack of surprise.

More on the recent study from TreeHugger.com, highlights my own:

Newly developed areas characterized by urban sprawl are wreaking havoc on the environment by any number of reasons, one of which is an integral piece of suburban design – a reliance on cars. But neighborhood design also influences the health of human populations, according to a new study from St. Michael’s Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.

The researchers found that the less walkable one’s neighborhood is, the higher risk its inhabitants have of developing diabetes.

[...] The results were surprising, with up to a 50 percent increase in the risk of developing diabetes for those living in a less walkable neighborhood, when compared to long-term residents living in the most walkable areas, results were regardless of neighborhood income.

[...] ”Although diabetes can be prevented through physical activity, healthy eating and weight loss, we found the environment in which one lives is also an important indicator for determining risk,” said Dr. Gillian Booth, an endocrinologist and researcher at St. Michael’s and lead author.

Active transportation not only saves lovely Lady waistlines, spreads smiles, love, and human connection, but it also saves citizens’ lives and community healthcare expenses.

So Ladies: lay off the doughnuts and keep. on. riding.

XOXO