Many Pathways from Land Use to Health

This article examines single-use, low-density land use patterns and reports that a 5% increase in neighborhood walkability is associated with:

  • 32.1% more minutes devoted to physically active travel
  • About one-quarter point lower BMI (0.228)
  • 6.5% fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita
  • 5.6% fewer grams of Nitrogen Dioxide per capita
  • 5.5% fewer grams of volatile organic compound (VOC) emitted per capita

Frank, Lawrence D., Sallis, James F., Conway, Terry L., Chapman, James E., Saelens, Brian E. and Bachman, William. “Many Pathways from Land Use to Health. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Active Transportation, Body Mass Index, and Air Quality.” Journal of the American Planning Association. 72.1 (2006): 75-87.

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