In our recently published paper (open access version here) we describe the development of a multivariate measure of physical environmental deprivation for the 278 municipalities of Portugal, and demonstrate its strong relationship with mortality rates. (more…)
Category: Built Environment
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Alcohol outlet densities correlate with alcohol-related health outcomes in Scotland: but so what?
In our recently-published study into alcohol outlets and health in Scotland we found strong correlations between the two: neighbourhoods with higher availability of outlets had higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalisations. In fact, residents of neighbourhoods with the highest availability were more than twice as likely to die a drink-related death than those with the fewest outlets, all else* being equal (*deprivation and urban/rural status).
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcarson/8278481152/ under Creative Commons licence But what does this actually mean? (more…)
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‘An environment where young people choose not to smoke’ is not one where tobacco products are sold on every street corner
By Niamh Shortt
Teenagers are more likely to smoke if they live in areas with the highest number of tobacco retailers. Our paper led by Niamh Shortt, published today in Tobacco Control, examined the relationship between tobacco outlet density and smoking habits of 13 and 15 year olds in Scotland. (more…)
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Food environments around schools: what historical data might reveal about current obesity patterns
Life course, environments & health
We know that factors throughout life influence our health and well-being in older age. Childhood poverty, early life education, difficult life events and many other factors have been shown to be strongly related to subsequent health outcomes. Yet almost all of this work has focused on our individual circumstances, and there have been few attempts to consider whether a wider set of factors – such as those at the community or neighbourhood level – affect our health over the life course. This is perhaps a surprise given the evidence that features of our local environment – such as air pollution, green space, and high numbers of retailers selling fast food, alcohol or cigarettes – are often associated with current health status. If these factors are causally related to health then there may be a number of policy opportunities (e.g. see our recent post on alcohol retail licensing). (more…)
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Watch CRESH seminar on YouTube: Why is urban health so unequal?
Why is urban health so unequal?
CRESH member Prof Jamie Pearce recently contributed to an event jointly organised by the Global Environment and Society Academy (GESA) and the Global Health Academy to deliver a public seminar series exploring the complex relationships between environment and health. The seminar series marks The Year of Environment and Health and will examine key issues such as urbanisation, population growth, extreme weather, pollution and ecosystem services through the lens of global environmental change. You can watch the public lecture here:
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Does deindustrialisation explain low levels of physical activity in the UK?
by Esther Rind
In the UK, as in many other affluent countries, levels of physical activity have been declining in recent decades. In many areas with a history of heavy manual employment levels of physical activity are particularly low. This has been linked to a considerable reduction in work-related activities, coupled with a generally more sedentary life-style and the development of broader environmental factors unconducive to physical activity (e.g. increased traffic makes walking and cycling less safe and attractive). Furthermore, previous research has highlighted that participation in leisure-time physical activity is relatively low across those employed in physically demanding industries. Low levels of recreational physical activity in combination with a considerable loss of work activity would therefore result in particularly low activity levels in the former manual workforce. (more…)
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Will the new point of sale legislation in Scotland influence young people’s knowledge and attitudes of tobacco products?
By Jamie Pearce & Catherine Tisch
Smoking remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Scotland and is implicated in one in every five Scottish deaths. Each year, around 15,000 young Scottish people start smoking and many go on to become regular smokers. Since the introduction of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act in 2005, most forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship in the UK have been banned. One of the few ways the tobacco industry can legitimately promote their products (often by elaborate and prominent means) is via point of sale (POS) tobacco displays. A recent systematic review showed that POS displays increased children’s susceptibility to smoking, experimentation and initiation into smoking. (more…)
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Alcohol and tobacco environments and adolescents’ health behaviours: future talk on CRESH research in Edinburgh
Title: Alcohol and tobacco environments in Scotland and their relationship with adolescent behaviour
Presenter: Dr Niamh Shortt
Date: Thursday 25th July 2013
Time: 11:00 am
Venue: Seminar Room, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP), 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DX (next door to the Mackenzie Medical Centre) (more…) -
The Built Environment and Habitual Physical Activity: CRESH Seminar by Takemi Sugiyama
Title: The Built Environment and Habitual Physical Activity
Presenter: Takemi Sugiyama
Date: Tuesday 28th May 2013
Time: 1200 – 1300 hrs
Venue: Old Library, Institute of Geography, Drummond Street, EH8 9XP.
CRESH 