Your zip code can influence your risk of serious diseases

A new study from McMaster University has revealed that where you live may influence your risk of serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The researchers identified factors that can affect lifestyle choices including access to public transit, the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, the availability and prices of cigarettes and alcohol, and the promotion of healthy foods in restaurants.

Study first author Russell de Souza is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster.

“We found there are significant differences in environmental factors that may contribute to health, and that these differed between urban and rural communities, as well as when we compared eastern with western, and northern with southern communities,” said Professor de Souza.

“We believe that this information shows there are factors outside of a person’s control that influence the individual’s health, and these factors likely differ depending on where they live.”

The investigation was focused on detailed data collected in Canada’s 10 provinces. The study revealed significant variations in the availability of fruits and vegetables found in rural and urban areas, as well as in different provinces.

Compared to urban communities, rural communities face higher food prices, are more subject to seasonal variation in fruit and vegetable selection, and are generally exposed to less promotion of healthy restaurant options.

The researchers also found that in-store advertising for sweet drinks and junk food is much more prevalent than advertising for tobacco products. In urban areas, cigarette prices are lower and the variety of brands is greater compared to rural tobacco stores. The prices for cigarettes are lowest in central Canada, and alcohol prices are lowest in Quebec.

Professor de Souza said the research was driven by concern about health trends in the nation.

“The rapid increase of overweight and obese Canadians and the associated consequences, including hypertension and diabetes, is a major health problem and threatens to halt the declines in cardiovascular disease deaths that Canada has experienced in the past 30 years,” said Professor de Souza.

“Knowledge gaps exist regarding the impact of the built environment – or the human-made physical surroundings – on how someone develops risk factors like high blood pressure, and the variation of these built environments across Canada by region and rurality.”

The researchers were not surprised to find that the environmental trends identified in their study coincided with health outcomes tracked in other studies.

“Previous Canadian studies have shown that people living in the east have a higher risk of developing heart disease than people living in the west,” said Professor de Souza. “We also see people who live in rural environments tend to have poorer health than people who live in urban environments.”

“This study helps us to understand what we call the ’causes of the causes’ of diseases like cardiovascular disease. For example, what are the factors that lead to the development of high blood pressure, which can later lead to a stroke or high cholesterol, which later turns into a heart attack?”

The study is published in the journal Cities and Health.

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer