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Your risk of developing diabetes depends on the area you live in
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Living in an area that is conducive to walking has positive effects on your health, including reducing your risk of developing diabetes.
As a team of scientists from St Michael's Hospital and the Institute of Clinical Evaluative Sciences found, immigrants who live on the outskirts of remote and underserved areas are particularly at risk. These areas are characterised by poorly developed and less developed streets and low population density.
Compared with native residents, who live predominantly in prosperous areas with well-developed housing infrastructure, approximately 50% of newcomers have been found to have a tendency to develop diabetes.
"While one way to prevent this disease is through physical activity, we have found that the environment and what surrounds a person is an important predictor of risk," said Dr Gillian Booth, an endocrinologist and researcher at St Michael's Hospital.
As previous research shows, for immigrants, the environment is one of the most important factors that can accelerate a person's risk of developing diabetes and other obesity-related diseases.
The scientists made these conclusions based on 10 years of observations of newcomers who immigrated to Canada.
This threat arises in migrants who have moved from the village to the city. Due to the lack of physical activity and consumption of unhealthy food, the risk of developing diabetes and gaining excess weight increases.
To identify the most favorable areas, scientists took into account such indicators as the location of stores, population density, the presence of pedestrian zones and the structure of streets.
Experts say the areas with the fewest pedestrian zones are those that are more car-friendly, typically suburban areas that have grown from sprawling cities at the expense of rural areas.
"Unfortunately, in today's fast-paced world, people have stopped walking even short distances. And when developing neighborhoods, the emphasis is often not on pedestrian zones and a convenient street structure in general. We must set other priorities - first pedestrians, then cyclists and last of all - cars," says Dr. Booth.
Researchers emphasize that urban infrastructure is of no small importance for the health of the population.