Will Urbanization Be a Global Health Boon or Hindrance?

While cities are thought to be an overall aid to general health due to better access to health care and improved overall infrastructure, it takes good planning to ensure that potentially harmful effects are minimized. Lessons of good planning practices will become increasingly important as the world, and especially the developing world, continue to urbanize.

That is the impetus behind a new report authored by Yvonne Rydin, of the University College London's Bartlett School of Planning, and published this week that, "examines several initiatives across the globe-from providing gardening
plots to urban residents in Cuba, to improving the pedestrian experience
in Bogota, Colombia-to see what's working and how we can best prepare
for continued urban growth."

"The authors conclude that urbanization alone will not automatically help
everyone lead healthier, happier lives," writes Harmon. "To improve the health of all urban dwellers-present and
future-concerted planning will be necessary, but global payoffs will be
great."