logo
Experts say one neighborhood feature is key to maximizing health and happiness: 'Our quality of life has just taken off'

Experts say one neighborhood feature is key to maximizing health and happiness: 'Our quality of life has just taken off'

Yahoo18-05-2025
If you've spent time looking for a new home, then you've probably heard the phrase "location, location, location" used once or twice.
While it often refers to a property's overall value depending on the area it is in, some experts now believe that where you live can help determine your own health and happiness.
Glen Duncan, professor and chair of nutrition and exercise physiology at Washington State University, said that a walkable neighborhood can lead to better overall well-being.
"Whether we're active or sedentary really plays a profound role in our health status," Duncan told National Geographic.
In a study led by Duncan, researchers examined the connection between outside factors and a person's willingness to get around and walk. These factors included intersection density, population density, and destination accessibility.
According to Duncan's team, for each 1% increase in an area's walkability, there was a 0.42% increase in actual neighborhood walking.
"There are clear connections between the neighborhood environment and behavior, in this case, it's physical activity," Duncan explained.
"The big question is whether that translates into tangible differences in health outcomes, like obesity, coronary heart disease, stroke, or diabetes."
The Mayo Clinic has noted that low-impact exercises such as walking can be easily incorporated into daily routines for most people. The more that a person walks, the more it can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, as well as improve mood, sleep, and their overall quality of life.
In separate research on the relationship between walkable communities and a person's general well-being, researchers at Texas A&M studied residents inside a planned community in Austin, Texas. The researchers noted that "increased walking in the community correlated with improved social interactions and the perception of social cohesion."
Do you think your city has good air quality?
Definitely
Somewhat
Depends on the time of year
Not at all
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Having a sense of community can not only provide long-term physical and mental health benefits, but it can also contribute to a better environment as well. Duncan said that could eventually inform how new neighborhoods are designed.
"It's not just about increasing activity, it's about decreasing pollution, it's about having a stronger economic area, social fabric," Duncan added. "These are all really strong, powerful benefits that improve our health."
Laura Groenjes Mitchell, an active transportation advocate, highlighted the importance of walkability for her and her family.
"We chose to live in a very walkable and bikeable neighborhood within the city and our quality of life has just taken off," Groenjes Mitchell told National Geographic.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why Ikea is recalling more than 54,000 garlic presses
Why Ikea is recalling more than 54,000 garlic presses

Fast Company

time2 minutes ago

  • Fast Company

Why Ikea is recalling more than 54,000 garlic presses

It's common knowledge that garlic makes everything better—but if you're cooking with a garlic press you bought from Ikea, it's time to check the model and potentially look into a refund. The company just issued a voluntary recall on thousands of garlic presses due to a 'laceration or ingestion' hazard. The recall, published on July 31 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) includes about 43,830 Ikea garlic presses sold in the U.S. and another 10,700 sold in Canada. Here's what to know about the affected products: Which garlic press is being recalled? The product in question is the Ikea 365+ VÄRDEFULL garlic press, used to crush garlic cloves. The garlic press has a black rubber handle and zinc-coated garlic chamber, and affected models were sold for $8 at Ikea stores nationwide and online at from March 2024 through May 2025. According to the CPSC, only models with the Ikea logo—which can be found at the upper part of the handle—are subject to the recall. What's happened? Per an Ikea press release, the garlic presses are being recalled 'Due to a production error, identified after an internal investigation, indicating a risk of small metal pieces detaching during use and subsequently being ingested with food.' Have any incidents been reported so far? Unfortunately, yes. The CPSC report notes that Ikea has received a total of 10 incident reports globally, 'including three reports of lacerations and finger splinters.' No incidents or injuries have been reported in the U.S. thus far. What should I do if I own a recalled garlic press? If you own the Ikea 365+ VÄRDEFULL, stop using it immediately. The product can be returned to any Ikea location for a full refund, even without proof of purchase. 'Additionally, IKEA encourages customers to spread the word about this recall, especially if they know that the recalled product was offered, lent or sold to someone else,' Ikea's report reads. For more information, customers are directed to visit or call the company at 1-800-661-9807.

Colorectal cancer may cause these 4 hidden warning signs, experts say
Colorectal cancer may cause these 4 hidden warning signs, experts say

Fox News

time21 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Colorectal cancer may cause these 4 hidden warning signs, experts say

Colorectal cancer rates have soared among younger Americans, new research has found — and there might not always be obvious symptoms. The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is one in 24 for men and one in 26 for women, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth in women, but is the second most common cause when the numbers for men and women are combined. While there may be no symptoms of CRC before diagnosis, especially in the early stages, the following signs and symptoms should not be overlooked, experts say. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, some symptoms of the disease can be similar to other causes, like hemorrhoids, infection or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But a change in bowel habits — including diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools or feeling like your bowels are full even after a movement — can be a sign of CRC. Fight Colorectal Cancer, a leading patient advocacy group, noted on its website how bowel movements can change due to diet, infections, medications and other medical issues. A change in bowel movement schedule or stool appearance could also signal CRC. Fight CRC recommends calling a doctor if your stool is consistently abnormal, if you have sudden urges to pass stool but can't control it, if the stool is black, clay-colored, red or white, or if there is mucus or pus in the stool. Skinny, thin or pencil-like stool may also indicate an obstruction in the colon, like a tumor, but can also be caused by other harmless, temporary conditions. Persistent discomfort in the abdomen is another CRC symptom, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance reported on its site. This can include feelings of pain, nausea, cramping, bloating or feeling unusually full, even after not eating much. Severe, "knife-in-my-stomach type" abdominal pains warrant a visit to the emergency room, Fight CRC instructed — but even mild pains shouldn't be taken lightly. Blood in the stool, toilet or when wiping with toilet paper can be a major sign of colorectal cancer. Fight CRC stressed that any amount of rectal bleeding is not normal and should be brought to a doctor's attention for proper diagnosis. Since blood in the stool is a common symptom, Fight CRC instructed paying attention to where the blood is found, how often it occurs and whether bowel movements are painful. Unexplained weight loss can sometimes be caused by cancer and should be brought to the attention of a doctor, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Weight loss is the result of cancer cells "consuming the body's energy" as they multiply, Fight CRC explained, as the immune system expends more energy to fight and destroy cancer cells. This can also lead to feeling fatigue, weakness or shortness of breath. For more Health articles, visit These symptoms may also be a sign of anemia, which can develop from bleeding somewhere inside the body, like from a cancerous tumor. Weight loss can also be caused by a tumor blocking the colon or intestinal tract, which prevents proper nutrient absorption.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store