Your suburb could be harmful - or helpful - to health

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-03-01 09:12

New Zealand

Wesley Fryer, Flickr - Fish & Chips (New Zealand) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/3305563515

How does where we live relate to our health? Using a new Healthy Location Index, a national NZ study has found small but significant links between certain ‘health-constraining’ residential features and various health concerns including anxiety, depression, diabetes, and smoking. Features of health-constraining neighbourhoods included more alcohol outlets, fast-food, and convenience stores, while health-promoting ‘burbs had more green spaces and workout facilities. The authors say though the effects were modest, the study backs up other research and points to policies to prevent and reduce the effect of unhealthy residential areas.

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From: University of Canterbury

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Media Release University of Canterbury, Web page

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conference: Social Science & Medicine

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, University of Auckland

Funder: The New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study is funded by a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT0196).

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