Walking Away from Car Culture: The European Secret to Better Health

Americans spend the most money on fitness, sell the most gym memberships, and carve out as much time for physical activity as any other country. We overspend on supplements and organic food. And yet our health outcomes are some of the worst in the developed world. This is all while other countries eat mostly high-carb foods like bread, pizza, and pasta. Why is that?

If you've spent any time traveling abroad, you had the experience of gorging on carbs but still feeling good. Maybe you even noticed a drop in weight. Some people jump to theories like "their flour must be better," but I think the answer is much simpler than that.

Europeans simply design their cities for people, and America designs cities for cars. Car culture is killing us. Literally.

You walk everywhere in Europe, thanks to densely built cities and robust public transportation systems. And when physical movement is intrinsically built into your day, you just burn more calories in a sustainable way rather than trying to pay your dues at the gym.

That's why I will always live in a larger city, work from home, and tolerate only bike commute to the office. Even though I could certainly get a bigger and newer house out in the 'burbs, the tradeoffs simply aren't worth it if it makes us more reliant on cars to get around.

Next time you're looking for a new place to live, prioritize walkability in your search. How might it impact your daily life and health? And even better: contact your local representatives about improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in your area. This might be the most important health intervention you could make.