Are Lake Oswego's Zip Codes Fat?

The Lake Oswego Review printed an article on 10/17/13 (pg. A-17), "Fat?  Check Your Zip Code". 

Unfortunately, the story starts to break down in the first paragraph.  And it just gets worse.  The Coalition for a Livable Future has a problem with drawing logical conclusions from research data.

I am not disputing the stated facts:
1.  Obesity is correlated with zip codes.
2.  Obesity is more likely to occur in lower socio-economic areas.

I object to illogical assumptions that people living in suburbs are burdened by obesity because of  inactive lifestyles - and dependency on cars.  If they only had access to bicycles, sidewalks and someplace close by to walk and ride to.  Like in the city where there are 20-minute, walkable neighborhoods.  At least this is the broken record some want you to listen to, over and over again, ad nauseum.  But it isn't true.

"Portlanders living in close-in neighborhoods are more likely to have trimmer figures and physiques."  

"People in outlying neighborhoods - and many suburbs - are more likely to sport love handles, beer bellies and other extra pounds."  

"Others found a strong affirmation for what the city of Portland calls '20-minute neighborhoods,' generally closer-in areas where residents can walk or bike easily to meet most of their essential needs."

Mara Gross, Executive Director of Coalition for a Livable Future goes on to claim that there is a "strong correlation between the ability to have a healthy weight and factors in our community: access to transit, having food, parks, walkable neighborhoods, etc."

The logic goes off track because of confirmation bias - people see what they want to see.  Some people want to believe that suburbs are unhealthy and people living there are sedentary, isolated, and do not have access to fresh, local foods.  Cities, on the other hand, are much healthier because of the benefits of public policies that encourage people to walk and ride bikes.  And this dichotomy is the basis for the difference between skinny cities and fat suburbs.  Hogwash!

"Residents of affluent areas such as Laurelhurst, Mount Tabor and Irvington have lower average BMIs, the maps show.  Those in [lower socioeconomic] neighborhoods such as Brentwood, Darlington, Lents, Centennial and Hazelwood are heavier on average, and those are areas where the city hopes to develop more 20-minute neighborhoods."  ???  Are the more affluent areas, 20-minute neighborhoods, or are they simply more affluent?  What is the factor that makes those neighborhoods more slender?  If it is a matter of education and wealth, how can public policy decisions such as 20-minute neighborhoods help with an obesity problem elsewhere.?

Yes, BMIs do track with socioeconomic status in cities and suburbs.  The map shows that low BMIs exist in the West Hills where 20-minute neighborhoods do NOT exist, nor do they exist in most of hilly Lake Oswego where 20-min. neighborhoods fail due to terrain.  The inner core of Portland is now a pricier place to live than many suburbs or outlying neighborhoods, so there is no surprise that BMIs are lower there also.

So how do 20-minute neighborhoods factor into the cause of obesity?  The problem is, until someone proves this with scientific research using solid data and not just sociological or philosophical wishful thinking, we won't know.  They are, however, a key ingredient of Smart Growth/New Urbanism and compact cities, so one has to wonder if that is the engine that is pulling this train.  Until then, pedal on!  And use smaller plates.