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Living less than half a mile away from bars increases risk of heart failure, shows study
It’s normal for people to find residence in a locality surrounded by restaurants, supermarkets, and bars. The prices of homes close to busy areas are much higher than others far from the city, but the convenience isn’t necessarily good for your health.
Most of us order in on weekdays and even weekends when everything is readily available at our fingertips. Those living closer to restaurants that serve ready-to-eat food might as well take a short walk to curb their hunger despite putting their health at a greater risk.
Living close to pubs increases risk of heart disease
Several studies have established the harmful effects of ultra-processed foods, and new research has found that toddlers get the majority of their calories from foods that aren’t as healthy as their parents imagine.
However, for the first time, a study highlights the health risks associated with living close to certain restaurants, pubs, and bars.
Researchers who led the study published by the American Heart Association analyzed the information of over 500,000 adults in the United Kingdom to understand the impact of the food environment on their health.
They documented close to 13,000 heart failures in 12 years and found that “a closer proximity and a greater density of ready-to-eat food outlets were associated with an elevated risk of heart failure.”
To conduct the study, researchers considered exposure to the food environment which was determined by proximity and density. The participants lived within a kilometer/0.62 miles or a 15-minute walk.
How the food environment affects health
The alarming findings highlight the unimaginable health risks associated with the food environment, regardless of the diet and lifestyle.
Participants who lived in high density of ready-to-eat food outlets had a 16% greater risk of heart failure than others who weren’t.
Those living in the highest-density areas of pubs and bars showed a 14% higher risk for heart failure; while people living in the highest-density areas of fast-food outlets had a 12% higher risk.
People who live less than .31 miles away from pubs and bars had a 13% higher risk of heart failure. Furthermore, those who lived the closest to fast-food outlets had a 10% higher risk compared to those who lived farther away.
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