[quote=briansd1]I noticed that people in the city centers tend to be thinner. That’s true for San Diego, New York, Philly, etc…
But if we could drill down to individual zips, we would see that people who live in the city are thinner than those who live in the suburbs or the exhurbs.[/quote]
Absolutely agree, brian. People who must commute to work spend valuable time (10-15 hrs. wk??) JUST SITTING in a vehicle, over and above the sitting they have to do at work. This time could be spent at the gym, jogging or at the park with their kids. These “commuters” arrive home late, hungry and often too exhausted to prepare a meal so just eat something quick (fast food or frozen fast food). For most of the year, the daylight is already gone by 7:00 p.m., anyway. It’s hard for them to even get any recreation on the weekends because EVERYTHING in their lives is left undone (chores, shopping, etc.) and has to be caught up so they can restart their grueling regime on Monday morning.
I have also noticed that many business people who fly frequently (travel for business 10-15 days or more per month) are obese or nearing obesity. Sitting in cramped airline cabins for hours on end, waiting in airports (where fast food is all that’s available), and eating most catered “convention-type” food is NOT conducive to one’s health. When the business traveler is finally home a for few days, they have to run back and forth to the cleaners and repack their bag/briefcase for the next trip/meeting, etc.
I’ve had friends and relatives who have lived this way for YEARS.
I have noticed that airlines are trying to remedy this problem by offering frequent flyer clubs in airports with gyms/showers/juice bars, etc. This is a great idea.
In the old days, I could call someone in my “connection city” to pick me up and take me to their place or lunch on a 3-hr. layover. Now a traveler can’t do that because there is no guarantee they will get back through the security checkpoints in time to make their connection :={
