Access to parks, open spaces in your community can be a health factor

What are the societal factors that influence health?WhenDr. Richard Jackson asks this question, the response often includes some combination of economics, education and culture. Rarely does he hear the one he is looking for: the physical environment of one ’s neighborhood.“If it’s not easy to walk to places, you’re surrounded by unhealthy food choices, and you spend hours each day driving to and from your job, that’s a powerful determinant of your health,” says Jackson, a pediatrician and professor in theDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences in UCLA ’s Fielding School of Public Health.A well-known author, lecturer and consultant on how to align urban environments  with public health goals, Jackson has called the built environment “social policy in concrete,” given the impact of urban planning and architectural design on health and well-being. Unfortunately, Jackson notes, “communities that don’t have a strong voice are more disenfranchised when thes e decisions are made.”At the Fielding school, faculty and students are working with community partners and policymakers in Los Angeles and beyond to ensure that decisions about everything from buildings and green spaces to public transit, bike lanes and streetscapes are made with an eye on their public health implications.Of particular interest is the notion of transportation equity — matching the infrastructure of communities with the needs of their populations.Michael Jerrett, professor and chair...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news