According to new research, if one lives in a neighborhood that provides easy opportunities for exercising and healthy eating with fresh fruits and vegetables close by and easily available, one can reduce one's chances of developing type 2 diabetes, by as much as 38% compared to people who do not.

Following 2,285-individuals all at least 45-years old, for three of the six sites that participated in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), neighbourhoods assessment was done by questioning residents. For example, they were asked whether they found it easy or pleasant to walk in their community, including whether local stores carried a high-quality selection of fruits, vegetables and other low-fat foods. Researchers found, average neighborhood scores for physical activity were 3.68 and 3.36 for healthy foods.

The authors of the study conclude, the growing numbers of type 2 diabetes during the past 30-years makes it imperative to find environmental features that can mitigate the risk. They recommend fostering the following health-promoting environments like designed and modified physical environments, such as:

" Zoning residential neighborhoods and making it mandatory to have safe sidewalks,

" Creating parks and attractive public green spaces,

" Improving public transportation so that residents do not rely so much on their cars;

" Supporting fresh-food farmers' markets in low-income, urban neighborhoods,

" Assisting stores in these neighbourhoods to improve their selection of healthy foods.

An approximated 23.6-million Americans and 246-million people worldwide have diabetes, mainly type 2 associated with a bad diet and lack of physical activity.