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People in deprived neighbourhoods live shorter and unhealthier lives than those in less deprived ones. Socio-economic status alone does not explain the difference and there is increasing evidence that the physical environments in which people spend their lives are implicated in health disparities. Traditional shopping streets in the UK have changed out of all recognition in the last few decades. This paper explores the evidence around exposure to unhealthy shops and services and how this may impact on communities. The work underlines the need to consider these potentially unhealthy areas more holistically. The research concludes that while restrictive planning policies to prevent proliferation of some of these uses may have some currency, more proactively urban designers need to fundamentally rethink these places and what they offer to the people they serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood overweight and obesity and physical inactivity are a major public health concern globally. This observational area-level case study examined and evaluated the attributes of two urban parks and 400 m peripheries influencing eating and activity behaviours in young people (aged 11-20 years). No single park variable principally or consistently attracted young people to parks or facilitated activity. Socio-economic advantage, however, was observed with higher park usership, food outlet provision (P=0.002) and food environment healthfulness (P=0.001) in more affluent areas. Inequities in obesogenic determinants are consistent with the concept of deprivation amplification. This issue needs to be more fully understood by urban designers and those involved in the planning, design and maintenance of urban parks and their peripheral environments. Furthermore, interdisciplinary cooperation and intervention between health and built environment professionals is needed to ensure that greater health equity is achieved for young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]