Living in a neighbourhood where it's pleasant and easy to walk and fresh fruits and vegetables are close at hand can slash a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Living in a neighbourhood where it's pleasant and easy to walk and fresh fruits and vegetables are close at hand can slash a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The risk of diabetes associated with living in such a healthy neighbourhood is about 38% lower than for people who lived in the unhealthiest places.
The researchers investigated whether a neighbourhood's resources might influence health at a broader level by following 2,285 people 45 to 84 years old living in different localities in America. During five years of follow-up, 233 developed diabetes. The researchers also surveyed a different group of people in different cities by telephone about how easy it was to be physically active in their neighbourhoods, and how easily they could obtain healthy foods in the area. The survey included nine yes-or-no questions, among them: "My neighbourhood offers many opportunities to be physically active," "In my neighbourhood, it is easy to walk places," and "A large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables is available in my neighbourhood."
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes for those living in the top 10 percent of neighbourhoods based on resources for physical activity was about half of the risk for those living the areas where it was the hardest to be active. And people living in the 10% of neighbourhoods with the best access to healthy food were about half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who lived in the worst 10 percent.
The healthier neighbourhoods also tended to be wealthier, with a greater proportion of white residents. When the researchers adjusted for factors such as race, ethnicity, family income, and wealth, the relationship between neighbourhood and type 2 diabetes risk was weakened somewhat, but remained.
The findings raise the possibility that changing people's environments could help improve their health. The researchers emphasise on initiatives needed like improving public transportation, increasing green space, making sidewalks safer, and opening farmer's markets in urban neighborhoods where supermarkets are scarce.
The researchers investigated whether a neighbourhood's resources might influence health at a broader level by following 2,285 people 45 to 84 years old living in different localities in America. During five years of follow-up, 233 developed diabetes. The researchers also surveyed a different group of people in different cities by telephone about how easy it was to be physically active in their neighbourhoods, and how easily they could obtain healthy foods in the area. The survey included nine yes-or-no questions, among them: "My neighbourhood offers many opportunities to be physically active," "In my neighbourhood, it is easy to walk places," and "A large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables is available in my neighbourhood."
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes for those living in the top 10 percent of neighbourhoods based on resources for physical activity was about half of the risk for those living the areas where it was the hardest to be active. And people living in the 10% of neighbourhoods with the best access to healthy food were about half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who lived in the worst 10 percent.
The healthier neighbourhoods also tended to be wealthier, with a greater proportion of white residents. When the researchers adjusted for factors such as race, ethnicity, family income, and wealth, the relationship between neighbourhood and type 2 diabetes risk was weakened somewhat, but remained.
The findings raise the possibility that changing people's environments could help improve their health. The researchers emphasise on initiatives needed like improving public transportation, increasing green space, making sidewalks safer, and opening farmer's markets in urban neighborhoods where supermarkets are scarce.
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