Studies already show that where you live can make a difference to your waistline.
Now, some Calgary researchers want to know if people would lose weight if all neighbourhoods were pedestrian friendly.
Older neighbourhoods with dual sidewalks, tree lined streets, and corner stores often attract people who like to walk.
University of Calgary researcher, Tish Doyle from the Faculty of Kinesiology, says, "If you were to walk everyday for sixty minutes a day, as opposed to going to the gym three times a week, walking would be a better choice."
But newer neighbourhoods may not have dual sidewalks, or in fact any sidewalks at all.
Kids may be bussed to school and cars rule the road.
Alan Shiell, a U of C researcher from the Faculty of Medicine, says, "We spend lot of money on hospitals and doctors. We might be able to spend that money better building neighbourhoods that are more walkable."
That would mean spending taxpayer's dollars to change the way some existing neighbourhoods have been built, perhaps adding sidewalks.
It could also lead to changes for developers as well.
Beverly Sandalack from the U of C Faculty of Environmental Design says neighbourhoods that have streets on a grid instead of a circular pattern attract more pedestrians.
"Ideally a city should provide people with the option of getting physical activity just in an ordinary day-to-day."
Shiell adds, 'But the question is: Does the neighbourhood make them walk more, or people who like walking, move to walkable neighbourhoods?"
The new study could provide evidence that changes the way our cities grow.
The research team has assessed every neighbourhood in the city.
In general, neighbourhoods built after 1973 aren't as pedestrian friendly.
