Neighborhoods where shops, schools and homes are within walking distance of one another encourage people to take more exercise.
Our physical environment is an often neglected factor when it comes to looking at people's fitness. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have analysed studies on neighborhood layout and physical exercise. They find that where shops, schools and other facilities are close together and where there are many short routes between places people use, then the level of walking is far higher than in less 'friendly' environments.

Where planners make cycling or walking inconvenient or dangerous, it's extra hard to motivate people to take exercise. Walking as part of a daily routine, because it's the easiest way to do your errands, could help lose two pounds of weight a year - without even trying. That's about the same amount of weight American adults gain annually, on average. Therefore, positive urban planning could make a real contribution to the nation's health.