21. Healthier Cities, Healthier People – Can we re-unite urban planning practice with epidemiological research to foster active longevity by design?

Abstract

The lecture briefly recounted important historical links between public health and planning legislation and the weakening of this close association in the post WWII ‘antibiotic’ era. With now more than half of the world’s population living in urbanized settings, there is a strong case to be made to pay closer attention to urban form and conditions such as noise, green space or walkability as these impact risk levels of both chronic and infectious diseases. Professor Webster made a strong case for the disciplines of health and planning to be ‘remarried’ based on an impressive range of research case studies providing evidence that building shapes and urban morphology can significantly impact health outcomes such as obesity or respiratory illnesses alongside other lifestyle factors (e.g. smoking). The second session of the 2024 AESOP Lecture Series took place at the University of Birmingham UK. FIND THE VIDEO IN THE VIMEO LINK BELOW