What could possibly be healthier about living in New York City than living in the beautiful suburbs of Atlanta?

According to scientists, if you live in any suburban area, all you have to do is open your garage door to find the culprit. Thats right your car is suburban public health enemy number one.

According to recent research published in Public Health, living in a big city like New York, Boston or San Francisco is better for your health than living in a spread out, car dependent suburb. Why? Exercise!

After studying 8,600 people in 38 metropolitan areas across America, the researchers concluded that living in the suburbs leads to more chronic health problems including high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes and migraines. Suburbanites were also more prematurely aged than city dwellers.

When my husband and I moved from New York City to a small town, the two main things we noticed were that there were more overweight people and that we had to work much harder at getting exercise. In the city we walked everywhere. If we decided to drive, we had to walk three blocks to and from our parking garage. Plus, we went up and down stairs to get to the subway and up and down stairs to and from our apartment. And, we did this every day.

So, what happened when we left? We started gaining weight. If we hadnt nipped that in the bud by consciously programming exercise into our busy daily schedule, according to research, it would have probably led to a host of other health problems.

At least thirty minutes a day of exercise, such as walking, is essential to getting and staying healthy. It can help you manage your weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol and prevent heart disease, diabetes and certain kinds of cancers such as breast cancer. Exercise can also lift your spirit, fight off depression and help you to look and feel 10 to 20 years younger.

So, as 90 year old fitness guru Jack LaLanne says, its time to Get off your seat and back on your feet.