A study in the journal Social Science & Medicine found that having a local grocery store in a neighborhood increased residents’ physical activity an extra 5 to 6 minutes per week. And for every recreational facility available such as a park or beach, residents’ physical activity increased by an extra 21 minutes per week. “This means that where there is an environment that supports walking with access to multiple facilities, residents walked much more,” said Professor Billie Giles-Corti, the study’s author.
To learn more: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130307124427.htm