Sprawling car-centered development is shortening the lives of people throughout Cascadia, according to a new report by a Seattle-based think tank.

Partly because of its compact urban development, British Columbia has a car-crash fatality rate that’s one-third lower than the U.S. Northwest and an obesity rate that’s nearly one-half lower, according to the Cascadia Scorecard, published by the Sightline Institute. “If we designed our roads and neighborhoods with health in mind, we might make very different choices,” said Clark Williams-Derry, the group’s research director, in a statement.

The conclusions aren’t especially surprising since Sightline, which was formerly known as Northwest Environment Watch, advocates sustainable development. Yet the group is one of the first to consider Cascadia as a single region.

The data could help influence public policy. Already, a Seattle P-I editorial has used the report’s conclusions in its call for more transit-oriented development in the Seattle area.

The report says that development of compact, walkable communities in Vancouver and Victoria has helped improved health there. Among the findings: 62 percent of Vancouver residents lived in compact communities in 2000, compared to 24 percent in the Seattle area. Twelve percent of BC residents are obese, compared to 22 percent in Washington.

The report also tracks population growth, energy use, pollution, economic growth and wildlife populations across Cascadia.