Building design can help tackle UK's obesity problem » Local Government » 24dash.com

With levels of obesity rising at an alarming pace, a new report from CABE argues that cities should be designed to encourage physical activity.

It calls for greater cross government working, and cooperation between local authorities and primary care trusts, to grasp the opportunity to deliver better health through buildings and spaces.

The report, Physical activity and the built environment, notes that two thirds of men and three quarters of women are not taking enough exercise, and a quarter of adults are obese.

The report points out that most sustained exercise is taken during the course of everyday activities, such as travelling to work or going to the shops, rather than specifically to get fit. That is why cities need to be designed to make it easy for people to walk or cycle.

The quality of parks affects how much they are used for formal and informal physical exercise, and how much people choose to incorporate them in walking or cycling routes.  Offices can be designed to support healthy activity, for example by including showers and secure parking for bikes.

The CABE report is released against a background of unprecedented investment in buildings and spaces, preparations for the 2012 Olympics, and a shift in thinking towards promoting health rather than treating sickness. This presents an ideal opportunity to shape our cities to have a significant impact on improving health.

CABE is highlighting the need for greater cooperation across government and between local authorities, strategic health authorities and primary care trusts.

In particular, CABE is calling for DCLG, as part of the comprehensive spending review 2007, to be given shared responsibility for delivering a public service agreement on public health with the Department of Health.

Commenting on the report, CABE chief executive Richard Simmons said: "The better the quality of our streets and parks, and the design of our buildings, the more people will choose to walk and cycle. Increasing this everyday activity should play an important role in tackling obesity.

"It is simpler and easier than complex exercise routines and cheaper than joining a gym. We are spending billions of pounds on new homes, schools and public spaces.

"By investing now in the quality and attractiveness of streets and parks as part of those developments we have a golden opportunity to encourage healthy behaviour."

CABE’s report also comes as Natural England prepares to launch on 11 October. One of its key areas of work will be to develop the role of the natural environment in supporting health and well-being.

Natural England’s health campaign will focus on growing evidence that experiencing nature can help tackle childhood obesity, coronary heart disease, stress and mental health problems.

It will seek to work with both health and green space professionals to improve the quality, quantity and usage of green space near where people live.