Built Environment and Healthy Living Lab

"Professional sports teams can motivate, educate and inspire people from all walks of life to live a healthier life."

"Young people whose parents report high anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic are moving less and spending more time on screens than those with low-anxiety parents, according to a study published in Preventive Medicine Reports."

The 2010 paper titled, "Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: A review of qualitative research," by Dr. Gavin McCormack et al. was recognized by Health and Place as having the eighth highest citation rate per year in the publications 25-year history.

"A partnership between researchers from the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan is contributing to our understanding of how ‘where we live’ is connected to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in Canada."

"Neighbourhoods that typically have more greenspace and recreation are associated with better mental health outcomes while neighbourhoods that have more connectivity are associated with better cardiovascular and weight outcomes. The overall design and walkability of a neighbourhood is associated with factors such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular outcomes."

"Decades of evidence suggest neighbourhood urban design can impact physical activity, diet, and social interaction, but showing that it might also have long-term consequences in terms of chronic disease, injury, and weight further highlights the importance of creating health-supportive environments."

"How neighbourhoods are designed have an impact on chronic health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, as well as injury, and mental health."

"Designing neighbourhoods and communities that make the healthy choice the easy choice."

"People should consider how their current and future residential neighbourhoods potentially influence their health in the short and long term."

Dr. Gavin McCormack and Dr. Alan Shiell's review, "In Search of Causality: A Systematic Review of the Relationship between the Built Environment and Physical Activity Among Adults," was recognized as the 14th most cited article in the 15 years of publishing by ISBNPA.

"Across Alberta, people, communities and governments are talking about - and taking action on - walking."

"Exploring the connection between community health and well-being with a focus on the built environment, parks/nature and social justice was the theme of the final event in the 2016/17 sustainability speaker series, Calgary and Beyond: Sustainability in the Next 20 Years."

"Turning physical activity into a regular part of your workday schedule makes it easier to stay active and, as a result, your health, your finances and the environment can all benefit."

"U of C researchers have found that people tend to be fitter and weigh less when they live in neighbourhoods with grid-patterned streets that are within a 15-minute walk of amenities such as grocery stores, transit stops, schools and work places."

"Walk21 gathering in September 2017 will discuss and debate how to nurture a culture of walking in Calgary."

“This is a great opportunity for Calgary to showcase some of the great work that it’s doing here in the city around walkability and walking, but also to be introduced to some of the ideas that are being undertaken around the world."

"If neighbourhoods are more walkable, the people living in these communities will be healthier in the long run and this healthier lifestyle will affect generations to come."

"Gavin McCormack’s research looks for a societal response to problems like the obesity epidemic, and he’s finding ways to build healthier, more active neighbourhoods."

"The link between drive time and obesity is worthy of attention. Driving is considered a sedentary activity and in Canada most adults are already spending far too much time sitting down."

"According to a new U of C study, the more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the more likely they are to be overweight."

"Q&A with public health researcher Gavin McCormack on his study showing the more adults drive, the more likely they are to be overweight."

"A study out of the University of Calgary suggests drivers who spend more time behind the wheel are more likely to be overweight."

"A recent review found that the physical activity levels of a child's friend can positively influence the physical activity levels of that child."