|
|  |
|
in-cites,
March 2006
http://www.in-cites.com/papers/ReidEwing.html
|
|
|
|
An
interview with:
Dr. Reid Ewing |
|
|
|
 n
the interview below, Dr. Reid Ewing talks about his highly
cited paper, "Relationship between urban sprawl and
physical activity, obesity,
and morbidity," (Am. J. Health Promotion 18[1]:
47-57, September-October 2003). According to Essential
Science Indicators ,
this paper, which has been cited 55 times to date, was named
the top Hot
Paper in Social Sciences for November 2005. Dr. Ewing’s
record in this field includes 8 papers cited a total of 169
times to date. Dr. Ewing is a research professor and associate
professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the National Center
for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of
Maryland.
|
What are the factors or circumstances that led you to your
work?
|
“This was the first study to show a link between urban form and the U.S. obesity epidemic.”
|
|
The fields of public health and urban planning discovered each
other in the late 1990s, and there was much speculation but little
evidence that urban sprawl was contributing to inactivity, obesity,
and chronic health problems related to the two. Our funding source,
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was interested in developing a
scientific basis for policy recommendations.
Would you give us a brief summary of your paper and its significance
for the field?
Using health data from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this
study showed that American adults living in sprawling counties walk
less, weigh more, are more likely to be obese, and are more likely
to suffer from high blood pressure than otherwise comparable adults
living in compact counties (after accounting for individual
socioeconomic and behavioral differences). This was the first study
to show a link between urban form and the U.S. obesity epidemic.
What are the social implications of your findings?
The United States needs to redesign its communities to promote
physical activity as part of people’s daily routines, for example,
walking to lunch, climbing stairs, and using transit which requires
a walk at each end. This will require higher densities, finer mixes
of residential and non-residential activities, stronger downtowns
and other activity centers, and smaller blocks for better street
accessibility.
Do you have any thoughts with regard to getting people in sprawling
counties to exercise more, or ways to raise awareness of this trend?
Since sprawl dwellers drive more and walk less as part of their
routine daily lives, they may need to compensate by exercising more
in their leisure time.
Do you have any follow-up studies planned, and can you tell us a
little about them?
We have completed a parallel study of urban sprawl and youth
obesity, which is currently under review at a public health journal.
Reid Ewing, Ph.D.
National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education
University of Maryland, College Park
College Park, MD, USA
| Dr. Reid Ewing's
most-cited paper with 99 cites to date: |
|
Ewing R, "Is Los Angeles-style sprawl desirable?"
J. Amer. Plann. Assn. 63 (1): 107-126 WIN 1997. |
|
Source:
Essential Science Indicators |
|
|
|
|
in-cites, March 2006
http://www.in-cites.com/papers/ReidEwing.html
|
|
cites
