Individual choices play a role in health, but our surroundings—the "built environment"—profoundly influence those choices. Urban planning is increasingly recognized as a critical field for public health, as the design of our communities can either promote or hinder healthy lifestyles. This article explores how two key aspects of urban planning, the food environment and the built environment, are linked to obesity prevention.
The Food Environment: Access to Healthy Options
The "food environment" refers to the physical presence of food stores and restaurants in a community and the types of food they offer. Research has identified two common, problematic environments:
Food Deserts
These are areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables. Residents often rely on convenience stores that primarily stock processed, high-calorie foods. This is common in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural areas.
Food Swamps
These areas are characterized by a high density of establishments selling unhealthy, energy-dense foods, such as fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. Even if a supermarket is present, the overwhelming number of unhealthy options can significantly influence dietary choices.
The Built Environment: Opportunities for Activity
Beyond food, the physical layout of a community—its "built environment"—determines how easy it is to be physically active. Car-centric designs can discourage activity, while pedestrian-friendly designs promote it.
Key Insight Summarized
Urban planning can be a powerful tool for preventative health. By consciously designing communities that make healthy food accessible and physical activity safe and convenient, cities can create environments where the healthy choice becomes the easy choice for everyone.
Urban Planning Strategies for Healthier Communities
Cities around the world are implementing innovative strategies to reshape their environments to support health. Key interventions include:
Zoning and Land Use
Implementing zoning laws that incentivize supermarkets in food deserts, limit the density of fast-food outlets, and support mobile markets or community gardens.
Active Transport
Building safe and connected networks of sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transit to encourage walking and cycling for daily errands instead of driving.
Parks & Recreation
Ensuring all neighborhoods have safe, well-maintained, and accessible parks and public spaces that offer opportunities for formal and informal physical activity.
By treating the design of a city as a public health issue, planners and policymakers can create systemic, lasting changes that support the well-being of all residents, making healthy living not just possible, but practical.
GIOPO Project Editorial Team
Educational content from the GIOPO informational project.