The built environment is shaping our patients' health

Summary: Doctors always say, "Eat right and exercise!" But what if your neighborhood makes that impossible? A medical student met a 13-year-old girl who wanted to be active, but she had no sidewalks, no gym, and lived near fast, dangerous traffic.

In the United States, many cities were built for cars instead of people. This car-first design makes it hard to walk or bike safely, which leads to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The good news is that cities can change. For example, Oklahoma City added hundreds of miles of sidewalks and bike paths, helping residents lose over a million pounds together! Miami is also turning the empty space under its train tracks into a 10-mile park. To help people get healthier, we need to build safer, more walkable neighborhoods.

For more details, see rssapp-kevinmd-com at kevinmd.com/2026/06/the-built-environment-is-shaping-our-patients-health.html (opens in new tab)

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