C O N T E X T 1 1 9 : M A Y 2 0 1 1 15 Healthy environments Healthy environments Healthy environments environments Healthy Healthy environme environments Healthy environments MARGARET DOUGLAS Realising good places for health Knowing that places shape our physical and mental health, public health and spatial planning professionals are working to improve the impact of the built environment. Physical activity has been called the ‘best buy in public health’ because it reduces the risk of many conditions.The amount of activity needed to improve health is surprisingly modest: only 30 minutes of brisk walking or equivalent activity at least five days per week. Yet most people do not achieve this. Of those who do reach this level of activity, most are active in their work or through regular travel by walking or cycling; only a minority because they take part in sport or purposively active recreation. Physical activity levels have fallen in recent decades because of changes towards sedentary work, and travel by car rather than walking or cycling. Walking is a form of physical activity that most people can do, it does not require expensive equipment and it can be built into a daily routine.Walking in a pleasant environment is also enjoyable. The design of our environment can either encourage or discourage walking and cycling. Unfortunately, in the last few decades we have designed our towns and cities in a way that supports car travel but discourages healthier and more active modes of travel. This is one of the reasons underpinning the current epidemic of obesity, which reflects the falling levels of physical Greenspaces and play areas can be good for physical and mental health. Photo: ©xendo
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