Key Points Question What is the minimal dose of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) associated with a reduced risk of depression and depressive symptoms in older adults (aged ≥50 years) with and without chronic disease?
Findings
In this cohort study among 4016 older adults, at each of the included time points across a 10-year period, a negative dose-response association was observed between MVPA dose and depressive symptoms and major depression.
Meaning
The findings of this study suggest that a lower dose of MVPA than recommended from guidelines for overall health may be associated with a lower risk of depression among older adults.
I personally think walkable cities are a very good thing. But I think it is important to understand why some people value driving and become defensive.
Many of the people I talk to who are defensive about driving are concerned with the affordability of housing. These people are often commuting from more affordable areas and are concerned with anything that extends their already long commute.
So I think it’s best to avoid characterizations of these people as lazy or selfish. They are really just trying to balance their life with a different crippling societal problem. We need to be careful to craft our arguments for walkable cities in a way that appeals to a broad audience.
In my experience as a North American, so many people can’t fathom walking for daily needs like groceries or work because of how hostile our urban environments are. It absolutely sucks walking next to a 5-7 lane road with lots of driveways, intersections and traffic moving 50-80 km/hr. Its loud, smells of exhaust, is often an ugly environment of parking lots, and you gotta be on guard for any cars that don’t see you.
I much prefer taking a more suburban route for groccery trips even though its a little longer and ends up being uphill both ways because the quiet streets and more greenery make a much safer and more enjoyable walk.
I could certainly see this as another reason people defending car centric infrastructure would be defensive. Walking is truly miserable in many cities and some people may not even know that it can be nice. My area is decently walkable so I probably have some bias in my observations. I will keep this perspective in mind, thanks!
This and the massive distances between most peoples homes and where they need to go. A proper walkable city has most amenities within 20 minutes walking or accessible by transit. It NA urban design, you’re sometimes lucky to have a convenience store within 20 minutes let alone options for work, grocceries, restaurants etc.
That would be plausible if they actually came to it in good faith.
It doesn’t explain why they’re completely disinterested in seeing how stopping forcing people from living the exact way they do is better for their lifestyle too.
I have found people on the car side of things to rarely come to a discussion in good faith which is frustrating to say the least. However, I am advocating for coming to the conversation in good faith regardless. Someone needs to take the first step to connect in any argument.