he biggest killers in Louisianaare ailments such as heart disease,cancer and diabetes. Thesecollectively are known as chronicdiseases, meaning they arenoncommunicable and slow todevelop, but which are also mostoften caused by two preventablerisks: obesity and tobacco use. And while people may be able to tellyou the personal toll these factorshave taken on them, their familiesand their friends, they may nottotally understand the impact thesefactors have on a wide-ranging oreconomic scale. Higher healthinsurance premiums and highergovernment-paid health costs affecteveryone. And employers andemployees suffer lost productivity,more sick days and more disability.

The Louisiana Department of Healthstates "Louisiana’s obesity rateshave skyrocketed, posting a 150percent increase since 1990." That'sa dire situation that requiressolutions. Complete Streets is one.

Complete Streets is one way to cut the fat

T

Louisiana is thenation's most obesestate with 36.2% ofits adults rated assuch. Our state'schildren are notdoing much better,coming in with thefourth highest rateof childhood obesity.In Lake Charles, two-thirds of thepopulation (50,000out of 75,000) areoverweight orobese.

When people have safe, accessibletransportation options, they movearound more, as well as morefrequently. And evidence shows thatis good for both health and business.

That's why communities around thenation are adopting Complete Streetspolicies, which ensure wheninfrastructure decisions are madeand structures built, that theypromote safe, accessible movement.For example, Complete Streetsincludes proper crossing walks, widersidewalks, cycling lanes and medians,all of which are ideally connected topublic transit. Lake Charles, with itslow walkability score of 37, "cardependent city" designation, as wellas its surrounding areas' healthproblems, make Southwest Louisianaan ideal place to enact these policies. Health BenefitsComplete Streets offers multiplehealth benefits. For example:

- Studies show active commuting, such aswalking or biking, can be just as effective asstructured workouts.

- Active transport has been shown to reducecardiovascular risk 11% and improve men'smental health.

- U.S. Childhood obesity has tripled since the1980s, while the leading cause of death forchildren age three to 14 are motor vehicle

2016

OBESITY: A GROWINGPROBLEM FOR CALCASIEU

Complete Streets policies can improvehealth and business in Southwest Louisiana

Cont.

* Moses Lake, WAThis city created a CompleteStreets policy in response to a127% increase in obesity. Focuson making streets moreaccessible for all transport andchildhood outdoor play. Readmore at: www.smartgrowthamerica.org/app/legacy/documents/cs/factsheets/cs-health.pdf.

* Lansing, MITechnical, in-depth summary ofhow a major city/county engagedthe community to make CompleteStreets a success. Read more at:http://cedam.info/wp-content/files/Ingham-Final.pdf

* Manatee County, FLDescription of Complete Streetsdecision-making. Focus onchildren, schools and parks,using existing monies toprioritize projects. Read more at:http://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/factsheets/apha_innovfs_manateedept.ashx.

* Reading, PAHigh employment rate is leadingcity to be more bike-friendly andaccessible for low-income andunemployed. Read more at:http://www.npr.org/2016/09/11/492230194/some-towns-treat-bikes-as-trendy-but-in-reading-pa-theyre-tools.

CONTINUEDCOMPLETE STREETS

BENEFITS OF COMPLETE STREETSGO BEYOND HEALTH...continued from previous page

collisions (20% while walking). Creating a safer, more walkable and bikeable community can help reducechildhood obesity and save lives.

- Increased use of public transportationincreases disposable income which canthen be spent in the area.

- Air quality improves, with children andpeople with asthma or other respiratorydiseases benefiting. One Florida county isusing Complete Streets policies becauseof the area's high hospital admittancerates for respiratory infections andasthma, which can be directly related toair quality and car exhaust fumes.

- Physical activity improves longevity

Case Studies

particularly for older adults.

Economic BenefitsComplete Streets can also stimulatethe economy, as access to healthcare,jobs and businesses are importantconsiderations when implementing itspolicies.

- People can more easily seek andreach jobs, increasing employmentoptions.

- Businesses see more foot traffic, inaddition to their normal traffic.

- Real estate values increase.

Complete Streets is a win-win on manylevels, as communities across thecountry are finding out.

ReferencesAmerican Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Livability Index – Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, LA. Accessed on 9/22/2016 athttps://livabilityindex.aarp.org/search#Lake+Charles+LA+USAAmerica’s Health Rankings (2015). Louisiana. Accessed on 9/22/2016 at http://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/2015-annual-report/measure/Overall/state/LAAmerican Public Health Association [APHA] (2010). Active Transportation – Benefitting Health, Safety and Equity. Accessed on9/22/2016 at https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/topics/transport/apha_active_transportation_fact_sheet_2010.ashxAPHA (2011). Complete Streets – Active Transportation, Safety and Mobility for Individuals of all Ages and Abilities. Accessed on9/22/2016 at https://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/topics/transport/apha_complete_streets_october2011.ashxAPHA. Developing a Complete4 Streets Policy – Manatee County Health Department. Accessed on 9/22/2016 athttps://www.apha.org/~/media/files/pdf/factsheets/apha_innovfs_manateedept.ashxCenters for disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2008). Physical activity and the Health of Young People. Accessed on9/23/2016 at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/pdf/facts.pdfCounty Health Rankings (2016). Louisiana – Calcasieu (CL). Accessed on 9/22/16 athttp://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/louisiana/2016/rankings/calcasieu/county/outcomes/overall/snapshotDunn, AL, Marcus, BH, Kampert, JB, Garcia, ME, Johl HW 3rd, Blair, SN (1999). Comparison of lifstule and structured intervetionsto increase physical acitivty and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trail. JAMA 27;281 (4): 327-334. DOI: 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-4-joc80889.National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) (2014). Childhood Overweight and Obesity Trends. Accessed on 9/23/16 athttp://www.ncsl.org/research/health/childhood-obesity-trends-state-rates.aspxSmart Growth America (2016). Economic Development – Complete Streets stimulate the local economy. Accessed on 9/23/2016at http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/economic-revitalizationTrust for America’s Health (2016). Key Health Data About Louisiana. Accessed on 9/23/2016 at http://healthyamericans.org/states/?stateid=LA