In the land where the car is king, Acquanetta Warren has learned a thing or two about body fat and upward mobility. A transplant from South-Central Los Angeles to Fontana, one of the Inland Empire's fastest-growing cities, Warren has achieved the dream of suburbia -- a big house with a three-car garage and a sweeping plot of green.
But for several years, moving up meant barely moving under her own power. And over a few short years, that contributed to some serious upward movement on her bathroom scale.
Now 50 pounds lighter than her heaviest weight, Warren -- a City Council member in Fontana -- has become a foot soldier in an emerging movement. Spurred by evidence that 60% of Americans are too sedentary and 61% are overweight or obese, assorted academic experts and public officials have joined forces. They aim to fight the nation's epidemic of obesity with more sidewalks and bike paths, schools that kids can walk to, devices that slow traffic and zoning changes that would create an appealing mix of homes, stores, schools and recreation in blighted downtowns and far-flung suburbia.
Counteracting obesity -- An article in Monday's Health section about land use planning aimed at getting people to become more active misspelled the San Diego neighborhood of Clairemont as Claremont.
Obesity and environment -- The San Diego neighborhood of Clairemont was misspelled as Claremont in last week's Health section article on new efforts to get people moving.
The focus on what experts call the "built environment" is the latest attempt to grasp the social and environmental factors that influence Americans' decisions about eating and exercise.
"If you want to get rid of fat America, then you have to change your built environment," says Ron Sims, county executive of Washington state's King County, which includes Seattle and many of its inner suburbs.
"You are what your neighborhood is," he says. "If your neighborhood is designed to get you home and into your house, you're going to be a couch potato. But if your neighborhood is designed to get you out of your house, then you'll get out and get active."
Across the nation, the "active living by design" movement is plotting changes designed to coax Americans out of their cars.
* In at least 18 states, including California, a grass-roots movement called Safe Routes to School has won public funding to improve sidewalks, crosswalks and bike paths that link children and their families to school.
* In Denver, on the massive site of what was once Stapleton Airport, developers are working with city planners and public health officials to build a community that promotes everyday walking and biking.
