Cities in Europe are unique - a new WHO report shows they can be the healthiest in the world

The report “Urban design for health: inspiration for the use of urban design to promote physical activity and healthy diets in the WHO European Region” will be launched on 31 August 2022 at 10.00 CET during the opening session of the 11th conference of HEPA Europe on health-enhancing physical activity in Nice, France.

Healthy choice should be the easiest choice

Smaller cities can use more urban design tools and health interventions to improve the well-being of their populations. The new report looks at innovative and effective ways to promote physical activity and healthy diets in urban settings.

There is a strong relationship between urban environments and non-communicable diseases, which are a major cause of death and disability around the world.

Providing access to healthy foods and active lifestyles has profound effects on the physical, mental, and social well-being of communities around the world.

Rather than simply educating people about the ‘right’ food choice and benefits of physical activity, cities can implement strategies to make those choices the easiest ones, proposes the WHO report.

Tools for healthier cities

“If we want to make cities a better environment that helps people to live healthier lives, first we need to understand the people’s needs. This will give us insights to integrate healthier habits into everyday lives effectively”, said Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe, a.i. Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

“Gathering data and building connections with local communities is essential for healthier urban planning”.

The WHO report presents several innovative tools which facilitate this aim in different ways:

- collect data on how people move around in a city

- identify local food infrastructures that can improve food security

- estimate the economic benefits of healthier policies

- tools for engaging various types of stakeholders, including citizens

- analyse data for healthier urban planning

Real-life examples from cities

Many cities have already implemented actions related to urban transport and mobility, as well as access to urban nature and green spaces. The new report highlights some of the positive examples.

- Cork, Ireland

This city is introducing more playful elements into its street architecture by developing ten new parklets with entertainment equipment and seating.

- Lisbon, Portugal

The city promotes healthy food behaviours by putting local produce at the heart of its public space project, while teaching children how to grow vegetables and the importance of a healthy diet.

- Cherepovets, the Russian Federation

Providing special pathways to access the water in both summer and winter. By connecting blue and green spaces in the city centre, this intervention aims to promote mental health for city dwellers of all ages and groups.

- Tbilisi, Georgia

The city is transforming its streets to make them pedestrian oriented. The new street design is meant to address the main challenges of Tbilisi: air quality, physical inactivity, and mental health.

The tools and examples in the report highlight the types of actions that policy makers and urban planners can use for inspiration to rethink and improve their cities.