The article explores the relationship between urban sprawl and public health, highlighting the complex interplay between land use, transportation, and social and economic development. Sprawl, characterized by low-density development, heavy reliance on automobiles, and the segregation of land uses, has significant health implications. Key issues include air pollution, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian injuries, physical inactivity, water quality and quantity, urban heat islands, mental health, and social capital. The article emphasizes that the health impacts of sprawl are not evenly distributed, with vulnerable populations such as minorities and the poor disproportionately affected. It also discusses the need for public health professionals to collaborate with urban planners, architects, and developers to design solutions that promote health and equity. The article concludes by advocating for a "smart growth" approach that integrates health considerations into urban planning and policy-making.The article explores the relationship between urban sprawl and public health, highlighting the complex interplay between land use, transportation, and social and economic development. Sprawl, characterized by low-density development, heavy reliance on automobiles, and the segregation of land uses, has significant health implications. Key issues include air pollution, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian injuries, physical inactivity, water quality and quantity, urban heat islands, mental health, and social capital. The article emphasizes that the health impacts of sprawl are not evenly distributed, with vulnerable populations such as minorities and the poor disproportionately affected. It also discusses the need for public health professionals to collaborate with urban planners, architects, and developers to design solutions that promote health and equity. The article concludes by advocating for a "smart growth" approach that integrates health considerations into urban planning and policy-making.