By Ellie DeGarmo, B.A., Junior Policy Associate Can the well-being of a community be measured? Can it be quantified? The Siena College Research Institute (SCRI) developed a way to do both. In May 2017, SCRI conducted a public opinion survey of 1,000 New York State (NYS) residents, as a statewide community. The survey comprised 80 questions, categorized in groups, addressing …
Health & the Built Environment: Innovative Approaches
Photo credit: Buffalo Rising and the Five Points Buffalo NY neighborhood By Diane Kolack, Policy Associate This is the second of two posts on health and the built environment. Part one focused on a recent workshop on built environment solutions to obesity, sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences. We often hear that your zip code is a better predictor …
New Report: Local Food on the Public Plate Can Boost Health, Create Jobs
By Kimberly Libman and Glenda Neff When you hear “local food,” what do you imagine? Do you think of apple picking every fall at your favorite orchard, rows of sweet corn along a country road, or your favorite stall at the farmers market? Chances are all of these options come to mind, but you seldom think of farm-fresh foods appearing …
Addressing Obesity through the Built Environment: An Event Recap
By Ellie DeGarmo, Junior Policy Associate and Diane Kolack, Policy Associate We tuned into a daylong Roundtable on Obesity Solutions Workshop In an effort to address obesity by exploring potential mechanisms for changing the built environment, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) hosted Advancing Obesity Solutions through Investments in the Built Environment: A Workshop on …
A 750 Mile Plan to Safer Cycling and Better Health
By Amanda Li, B.A., Junior Policy Associate Increasing cardiovascular health, building muscle strength, enhancing flexibility, promoting joint mobility, reducing stress and anxiety…this is by no means an exhaustive list but gives you an idea of the health benefits that come with cycling. Cycling is a cheap, fun, and low-impact form of exercise that people of all ages can enjoy to …