Why Zip Codes Mean More for Health Than Genetic Codes

The place you choose to live may be contributing to your health, happiness, and lifespan more than your genes or choice of healthcare services.

In fact, research recently compiled by the Project for Public Spaces indicates that environments specifically designed with public health in mind can be a major factor in overall quality of life.

Tyler Norris explains just how important our environment can be: “…Only 10-20% of what creates health has to do with access to care services. The rest of what creates health is directly shaped by where we live, work, learn, play and worship.”

So, should you uproot your family and move to the most health-oriented city?

Not necessarily.

The report notes that placemakers (such as engaged citizens advocating for bicycle lanes or wide sidewalks) are "health producers.” As a “health producer,” you may be able to help transform the place you already live into a healthier community for your family and everyone else in your neighborhood.

If you want to change your community into a healthier place to live, here’s what the research suggests:

1. Initiate social support and interaction. Isolation has a significant and negative effect on health. Create public places that invite strangers to feel comfortable and visit with each other. Host open-invitation community events, games, and exhibits that bring together people from different backgrounds together.
2. Design room for play. When people feel like they have permission to play, they’re more likely to make healthy decisions (such as exercise). Work with neighbors to decide what kinds of recreational facilities and programs would be well-used, accessible to residents, and appealing to diverse populations. Have fun with it.
3. Embrace nature in the city. Too much concrete and too few trees can measurably decrease well-being. Try to add to the green space in your community by planting flowers, advocating for natural landscaping, and filling vacant lots with vegetation.
4. Make sure there’s healthy food nearby. The local corner market won’t cut it; people need convenient access to foods that keep them healthy. (Think: fruits and vegetables). Consider starting a community garden, asking your city to host a farmer’s market, or making sure that food assistance vouchers can be used on local produce.
5. Create streets that invite walking and bicycling. The ability to move around your city without a car can significantly improve your mental and physical health. Try advocating for walking / biking routes to beloved community destinations, asking for safer pedestrian crossings, and making streets more pleasant to explore.

80% or more of our health may be shaped by where we live, but there's a lot we can do about it.

If this list seems overwhelming to you, don’t sweat it. Most “health producers” make their communities better in small ways. Start with something that feels joyful and low-pressure. Perhaps that’s planting a small vegetable garden in your front yard or sending your city council representative an email about the kind of park you’d like to see in the neighborhood.

Over time, small actions by people invested in creating healthier neighborhoods can create places that nurture physical health, mental health, and emotional wellbeing.