In recent years, a growing number of research efforts have focused on the relationship between the built environment and human health. The built environment refers to all buildings, spaces and products that are created and modified by people. This definition of built environment encompasses everything from homes, schools, businesses, roads and power lines as well as yards, parks and recreation areas.

The built environment is the way we have shaped our surroundings. How we interact with the built environment can affect our health.

The most direct way by which built environment can affect health is through the shape and pattern of our residential development. For most of the last century in the United States , a large majority of the population lived in cities. Cities are characterized by dense housing development with smaller yards and lot sizes, as well as multi-family apartments and duplexes. Along with the dense development within the cities came more multi-use neighborhoods where commercial businesses such as the neighborhood grocery store or local restaurant all located in the same area. These are often walkable communities where it is both safe and convenient to travel by foot. As well as being walkable some urban environments also have more options for travel by mass transit such as buses or subways.

Newer suburban development shows a sharp contrast to the denser urban development. Instead of smaller lots and corner groceries, suburban development is characterized by large housing developments dominated by homes with big yards. There are often no stores or businesses anywhere within the suburban neighborhood. The nearest grocery store or library may be a mile or more away. People commute, sometimes very large distances, between their home and work. This separation of residential and commercial land use leads to a dependence on automobiles in order to travel between the different destinations. And this distance often comes with a lack of sidewalks and as well as abundant strip mall commercial development.

These types of land use patterns influence health related behaviors. People walk less in suburban communities and commuting can mean less time for other physical activity. Studies suggest reduced activity can lead to overweight and obesity which is linked with health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and poor stress management. Overall, physically active people are healthier, and the built environment influences opportunities for physical activity and access to green space where these activities can take place.

The Greater Flint Health Coalition recognizes this link. Their Health Improvement Committee advocates the “Just A Bit Gets You Fit” campaign to increase physical activity, and their Flint River Trail Committee is working on improving access to and awareness of the Flint River Trail to promote more opportunities for getting active. Another initiative supporting active lifestyles as they relate to our built environment include the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) and Safe Routes for Work (SR4W)programs administered by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Fitness . This initiative, which is focusing in the downtown Flint area during the years of 2006-2008, is working to improve access and safety for pedestrian and bike commuting to school and work.