ABSTRACT
The relationship between health and urban design is complex because of the multiple elements which play different roles in the city system. Globalization and urbanization, combined with an ageing population, can expose people to risks of unhealthy behaviours, including reduced physical activity and unhealthy food, which can, in turn, cause chronic diseases. The latter strategy can be implemented by creating plans for food resilience in vulnerable areas and enhancing healthy environments. The first is, as affirmed in different theories, access to urban green places, which can have many good factors, including encouraging exercise and social interaction. Indeed, in some cases, green spaces can encourage behaviour which is anti-social and discourage their use because people feel unsafe in those spaces. Sauders suggests addressing all of them at once and implementing good practice in urban design at the largest possible scale. Adequate living conditions for citizens require healthy environments that promote healthy lifestyles.
