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research The primary objective of the research is to define performance criteria that when implemented into the physical environment, have a positive effect on physical health, most importantly, body composition.
goals -
research the current obesity epidemic in the United States define the critical balance between energy expenditure and caloric consumption investigate the links between body composition - obesity and the physical structure of the built environment compare and contrast the structure of cities in the United States with other countries investigate the impact of automobile dependent transportation practices on people explore the inclusion of agriculture and local food production in urban environments understand the critical design elements of streets, blocks, and larger community networks ACSM FIT INDEX
methods - operat ions
- literature review: The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Jane Jacobs Urban Sprawl and Public Health - Frumkin, Frank, Jackson Walkable City - Jeff Speck Design of Cities - Edmund Bacon Shaping Neighborhoods - Hugh Barton Toward the Healthy CIty - Jason Corburn Great Streets - Jacobs
periodical / journal reviews research studies
personal experiments : an extreme example of manipulation of energy balance in the body - Natural Bodybuilding Competition: I achieved a 2.9 caliper tested body fat percentage over the course of 20 weeks of contest preparation including training and intense diet
CDC
Starting weight : 195 lbs ( 9.8 percent bodyfat ) Lean Mass : 172 lbs
city-data.com
Contest weight : 170 lbs ( 2.9 percent bodyfat ) Lean Mass: 166 lbs
walkscore.com
May 20th, 2013 : 190 lbs
September 10th, 2013 : 170 lbs
( 25 lbs lost in 20 weeks ) Body composition was altered by strict adherence to programmed quantities of caloric consumption and activity levels
synthesis - body composition is a direct function of energy balance in the body,. Energy balance is determined by the balance of energy consumption and energy expenditure. Essentially: What we consume and how we move. - obesity is a serious problem in the United States. Our lifestyle habits and car centric society form the basis for this trend. Less physical activity, both utilitarian and leisure based coupled with poor dietary options and choices forms a deadly combination. - the structure of the built environment and body composition / obesity are strongly related, as proved by a variety of studies - urban environments should be designed to facilitate and encourage an increase in daily activity, both utilitarian and liesure - agricultural Urbanism and the provision of locally produced food within the city is a critical goal for design at a variety of scales -design for a variety of ages ( 8 - 80 ), and base design for movement systems in the city on the scale of the person
-utilize public space structure as a primary element in ordering the city : give people a reason to move - make pedestrian modes of transport the safest, cheapest and fastest way to move about the city - utilize the Marchetti Constant ( 1 hr. / day time travel budget ) as a basis for sizing urban districts and ordering the city. If people are going to spend an average of one hour per day travelling, allow them the opportunity to spend that time - 35 persons + jobs per ha. is the baseline of activity intensity required for people to choose pedestrian transport over the automobile. - residential densities should achieve 20 du/a minimum - the presence of a mix of primary uses within certain distances is a fundamental basis for increasing pedestrian activity and decreasing automobile usage - providing, marketing, and growing healthy, nutritious whole food in the city is a critical operation
OBESITY TRENDS : USA