Can Neighborhoods Influence the Prevalence of Chronic Diseases?
Yes, neighborhoods can influence the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Access to healthy food options, opportunities for physical activity, and exposure to chronic stress are all neighborhood-level factors that can affect the incidence of chronic diseases. Epidemiologists use geographic information systems (GIS) and other analytical tools to map the prevalence of chronic diseases and identify neighborhood-specific risk factors.
