Reuters: Sprawling neighborhoods not linked to obesity, study finds

Reuters reports that an international team of researchers have found no evidence that neighborhood characteristics have a causal effect on weight.

Rather, it appears that those who are inclined to be heavy are choosing particular neighborhoods because they can more easily get around by car.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and scientists in Britain and Spain, tracked U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on nearly 6,000 Americans in their late 20s and early 30s.

The research found no conclusive weight change when people moved from one neighborhood to another.

University of Toronto professor Matthew Turner, who co-authored the study, says that the use of urban planning to combat obesity is likely a "dead end", and he thinks that the public health community should focus its resources into other efforts.