The news came out a couple of weeks ago, and then it got swept away in the ongoing torrent of information: The Centers for Disease Control projects that by 2050, one in three American will have diabetes.
One. In. Three.
If we needed any more of a wakeup call about the catastrophic state of American public health, this should provide it.
Why is this happening? According to the report, "These projected increases are largely attributable to the aging of the US population, increasing numbers of members of higher-risk minority groups in the population, and people with diabetes living longer."
Fair enough. But why are people -- minority or otherwise -- getting diabetes in the first place? Scientists have proven the link between diabetes and obesity. And we have become a society where the road to obesity is quite literally built into our environment. Studies have shown that more vehicle miles traveled result in more obesity. Our broken food system is another huge contributing factor, but even there, the built environment factors in -- our inner cities are quite often "food deserts" where no healthy nutrition is available.
So if the places we live are making us sick, could they heal us instead -- if only they were designed better?
That's the fascinating question being raised by the Healing Cities Working Group of planners and health professionals in Vancouver.
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