In a new study, researchers found that people who live in walkable neighborhoods with access to parks and other outdoor activities are more active and less likely to have diabetes or obesity.
Nearly half of the adults in the United States have obesity, and over 11 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes.
Researchers and policymakers have been searching for an effective way to promote healthy lifestyles at a population level to address these dual epidemics.
The built environment is the manmade structures that provide people with living, working, and recreational spaces.
This environment includes buildings, neighborhoods, parks, bike paths, restaurants, shops, roads, and public transportation. Human health is affected by the physical environments we construct.
As Gillian L. Booth, M.D. says, the built environment can influence physical activity levels by promoting active forms of transportation, such as walking and cycling over passive ones, such as car use.
Shifting the transportation choices of local residents may mean that more members of the population can participate in physical activity during their daily routine without structured exercise programs.
In the current study, the team reviewed several studies on the built environment and their effects on public health and found walkable, activity-friendly cities and neighborhoods were associated with a lower risk of obesity and diabetes.
One study found the prevalence of obesity among adults living in highly walkable neighborhoods compared to those living in low walkability areas was 43% vs. 53%.
Another study found the incidence of pre-diabetes was 20% higher among people living in less walkable areas after 8 years of follow-up.
Also, some studies found a 30% to 50% higher likelihood of developing diabetes among people living in low versus highly walkable areas.
The researchers noted that air pollution and high concentrations of fast-food restaurants are risk factors for diabetes and can substantially reduce the benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about common vegetables that could reduce kidney damage caused by diabetes, and this exercise can help reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about why more than half of people with type 2 diabetes die from heart disease, and results showing this diet could help reduce high blood pressure, diabetes.
The study was conducted by Nicholas A Howell et al., and published in Endocrine Reviews.
