From university it’s very obvious… living near pubs and bars is BAD for your health (because you spend too much time there!)
Living within half a mile of pubs, bars and takeaways increases your risk of heart failure by up to 16 per cent, a study has found.
People living in high-density areas, with eleven or more locations within walking distance, had a 16 percent higher risk of suffering from the fatal condition than those who had no locations near their home.
The study was conducted in the US using the health data of 500,000 people in Great Britain.
Living near a pub or bar creates too much temptation (stock)
Professor Lu Qi from Tulane University in New Orleans said: ‘Most previous research on the relationship between diet and human health has focused on food quality, while neglecting the impact of the food environment.
‘Our research emphasizes the importance of including the food environment in nutrition research.’
The researchers compared the prevalence of heart failure with the proximity of individuals’ homes to three types of eating establishments: pubs or bars, restaurants or cafes, and fast food takeaways.
They found that 13,000 people in the study group suffered from heart failure, with those living near different locations faring the worst.
Those in the areas with the highest density of pubs and bars showed a 14 percent higher risk of heart failure, while those in areas with the most takeaways had a 12 percent higher risk.
People who lived very close (less than 550 metres) to at least one pub or bar had a 13 per cent higher risk of heart failure.
The risk of heart failure was also higher among less educated people and adults in urban areas without access to formal physical activity facilities such as gyms.
The study, published in Circulation Heart Failure, says improving access to healthier food options and physical fitness facilities in urban areas could be key to reducing deaths.
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart muscle cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. It usually occurs gradually, or can develop after a heart attack if the heart muscle is severely damaged.