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Environmentalists and public health officials have been warning us for years about the dangers of environmental pollutants and irritants on our health.
We know people living in smoggy areas tend to have more respiratory problems such as asthma and COPD. Those exposed to ionizing radiation during above-ground nuclear testing are at increased risk of thyroid cancer, and those exposed to chemical defoliants report an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Now, mounting research shows where we choose to live directly affects our health. Factors such as the local food supply and distance to your workplace have a major impact on weight, cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health.
Fast Food Prevalence
Two recent studies, for instance, showed the link between fast food availability and obesity in communities.
In the first study published in June, the authors looked at 2,900 Canadians to calculate the ratio of fast food restaurants to supermarkets in their communities. Not surprisingly, higher ratios of fast food restaurants to supermarkets within a half mile of home greatly increased the risk of obesity.
Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or greater. In the United States, 1 in 4 people are considered obese by body mass index definitions. In the Canadian study, only 14 percent of the population met the criteria for obesity. Yet the chances for finding just such a person were significantly greater among those who lived within a half mile of more than five fast food restaurants. By comparison, obesity rates were lower among those who lived near three fast food facilities or less.
Interestingly, the ratio of fast food facilities to supermarkets within one mile didn't make a difference. Apparently, we rarely venture beyond a half mile for sustenance.
In the second study published in July, the authors looked at 5,633 adults in six communities across America. The authors looked at several measures, including frequency of fast food consumption, consumption near home, and a healthy diet as determined by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index and Western-type dietary pattern.
Those who never ate fast food had two- to three-times higher odds of a healthy diet compared to those who admitted to eating fast food more than once per week. Living within one mile of a fast food restaurant increased the odds of consuming fast food by 11 percent to 65 percent and decreased the odds of a healthy diet by 12 percent to 17 percent.
Proximity to Work
Studies also reveal that how we get to work profoundly influences our health, particularly for those who spend a lot time behind the wheel.
In an analysis of home and work environments, authors of the CARDIA study looked at 2,364 individuals living in four communities across America, including two well-known for their frigid winters: Chicago, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn.
Researchers found that 1 in 6 got to work via some non-motorized means. Granted, this varied dramatically depending upon latitude and season, but it also differed by race, sex and education.
Active commuters lived, on average, just 5 miles from their work and took 20 minutes to get there. Two-thirds of the active commuters walked while half biked on various occasions.
Non-active commuters lived 10 miles to 14 miles from work and essentially drove 100 percent of the time. (And still took 20 minutes to get there!)
The active commuters were 50 percent less likely to be obese and had lower CVD risk, triglycerides and blood pressure, and fasting insulin.
Arguably, the above findings can be skewed by those who are more intent upon staying healthy. These people may choose homes closer to work and supermarkets. But it's good to know that, during this time of economic upheaval and displacement, making wise decisions regarding new work and housing opportunities can lead to health benefits, too.
Additional Reading
Moore L, et al. Fast-Food Consumption, Diet Quality, and Neighborhood Exposure to Fast Food. American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 170(1):29-36. http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/kwp090
Spence J, et al. Relation between local food environments and obesity among adults. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:192. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/192/abstract
Gordon-Larsen P, et al. Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The CARDIA Study. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(13):1216-1223. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/169/13/1216
Alvin B. Lin, MD, is clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine at its Las Vegas Family Medicine Residency program. He also is the senior institute physician at the Cenegenics Medical Institute in Las Vegas, Nev., and director of the Cenegenics Education & Research Foundation's category-1 approved course in age management medicine.
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