New research has confirmed what many experts had already suspected: living in the suburbs can be hazardous to your health.

The information comes in a study released by California's Rand Corporation. Scientists analyzed data on 9,000 Americans in 38 suburban areas.

They concluded that the further you live from a city centre, the more at-risk you may be for health problems like high blood pressure, obesity, arthritis, asthma and headaches.

Health experts say a culture dependent on the vehicle and fast-food are contributing to the problem.

"If you live in a more compact area, everything else being equal, like age, education, income, you're less likely to have chronic health problems," said Roland Strum, co-author of the report.

That's because people who leave in the city are more likely to walk to work, school and shops, getting their daily exercise as they go about their regular routines.

Those living in the suburbs typically spend more time in their cars, leaving less time to exercise. That leaves suburban residents prone to a slew of health problems.

"Whether it's Winnipeg, or Vancouver or Toronto, because a significant amount of the new development is happening at the edge and it tends to be at lower densities, you're going to be spreading out and therefore putting more miles on the kilometer clock," said Glenn Miller, President of the Canadian Urban Institute.

According to Statistics Canada, the cities with the fastest-growing suburbs are Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina.

But in Ottawa and Abbotsford, B.C., there are more people moving from the suburbs into the city.

American researchers say even an hour spent in your car, getting to and from work, can lead to health problems. Still, other experts say it's not where you live, but how you live that makes the difference.

"Build healthy eating into the commute. I call it dashboard dining," says dietitian Gina Sunderland. "Having an apple in the car, yogurt, something like that."

Sunderland also advises adding exercise to your daily routine. Many of those living in the suburbs say adding a leisurely walk to a routine that includes a stressful commute can help you get moving in the right direction.

With a report from CTV's Jill Machyson