Neighborhoods may actually help prevent childhood obesity. Isn’t that amazing? Every realtor knows the importance of location and how the quality of a neighborhood relates to property values. Now scientists are finding that “the neighborhood environment is potentially very important in controlling the obesity epidemic”.

I recently read a fascinating article on Yahoo! News, which was written by Charnicia Huggins of Reuters Health.

The article reports findings of a survey of 684 households in Los Angeles County neighborhoods that included 807 teens and 3,000 adults. The study was discussed in the journal of Social Science & Medicine. 

Here’s the essence of the news story–close-knit neighborhoods, in which neighbors get along, work well together and provide adult role models to teens help kids lower their risk of obesity by 50% or more.

So when you go house hunting, don’t just check out the granite countertops and tile flooring. Look closely at the entire neighborhood. Are there parks and ball fields nearby? Is there a community swimming pool or tennis court? Do you see children at play? If possible, talk to potential neighbors. How well do the neighbors get along? Do they organize activities together?

Neighborhoods count and can make all the difference in the health and well-being of you and your family.