The Newest Ally Against Obesity – Your Apartment Building?!

It’s true. There is an apartment building in the Bronx designed, specifically to combat obesity. This brand new, 8-story building with 63 units, known as The Melody, offers a gym with floor to ceiling sunlight, a backyard with brightly colored exercise equipment for adults and children, and flights of stairs with bright green railings surrounded by artwork and jazz playing in the stairwells. Note that there's no music in the elevators. :)  The developer made these design choices with a specific focus on exercise and health. By making the stairs and outside areas more inviting, residents may forgo the elevator and take the stairs... a simple, healthy way to increase daily activity. If residents still need a reminder to take the stairs, a sign next to the elevator reads: 

“A person’s health can be judged by which they take two of at a time, pills or stairs.”

Wondering when apartments like this will make it to the Boston area? Not clear but, the New York City departments of Design and Construction, and its partners, released a 135-page guide called Active Design Guidelines, on the construction of buildings that would encourage exercise and mobility. Builders do not receive tax credits or compensation for following the guidelines outlined, but doing so can earn them points in a rating system administered by the United States Green Building Council called LEED, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The Melody opens its doors to residents this summer, and more than 40 units have already been sold. Obviously, it is not the apartment building alone that will make for healthier residents. We have to make healthier lifestyle choices, but surrounding ourselves with a supportive environment can certainly hep! How do you make your home or community a healthy environment? Comment here or leave me a message a Facebook!