Module Review: Geographies of Health

This module had me exploring a part of geography I’ve never studied before, a totally relevant topic to everyday life, the geographies of health. This module was academically stimulating and required the reading of articles and papers surrounding health and geography. However, I mostly enjoyed it due to the fact that it made me reflect on my own situation and how my environment, coupled with the way I was raised and who I am, determines how healthy (or not) the decisions I make are.

            

One lecture in particular sparked my interest, ‘the geographies of food consumption’; the idea that our choices surrounding food consumption are formed by motivation, abilities, and opportunities (Brug et al., 2008; Swinburn et al., 2011). I felt particularly engaged with this topic, when considering my own health here in Utrecht compared to how it is when I am studying back in London and living in Camden, I genuinely feel that the environment is making a difference. To demonstrate what I mean, I’ll employ the idea that was set out in the lecture. The chance that individuals will engage in healthy behaviours depends on a number of interrelated factors. A person is most likely to positively engage when they are motivated to act healthily, they have the abilities to engage in that healthy behaviour, and their social and physical environment is offering the right opportunities for them to act accordingly healthily.

            

First let me take Camden – specifically where my second year house was situated, Camden Road. The environment: mainly fast-food outlets, huge Sainsbury’s 10 seconds away from the house, bus stop and tube stop 30 seconds away from the house, limited green space, lots of concrete. Although I had the ability to engage in healthy behaviour, the motivation simply wasn’t there, especially considering how convenient and easy it was for me to access transport (limiting my physical activity) and outlets offering poor food choices. Compare this now to where I am living in Utrecht, on a campus with only one small supermarket, the most convenient way to access the larger more affordable supermarket is via bike (20 minute cycle). The bus takes longer to get to the town centre than taking a bike, and located directly behind my accommodation are several hectares of farming land, woodland and running and cycling paths. As well as having the ability, to engage in healthy behaviour, the environment is offering the right opportunities, and I feel compelled to make healthier decisions due to just how easy and convenient it is to do so.

            

This ‘Geographies of Health’ module was not just interesting due to the fact that it was all completely new to me, but it felt relevant. I can see evidence of what I was learning in action everyday, it has made me think harder and actually consider the daily choices I make and how these can have an affect on my health. Now that I have developed this new ‘ability’ to be more mindful about my health choices, I hope to continue practicing a healthier and more active lifestyle when I’m back in London – less tube, no more Woody’s, and more taking advantage of beautiful Regent’s park!

References:

Brug, J., Kremers, S., Lenthe, F., Ball, K. and Crawford, D. (2008). Environmental determinants of healthy eating: in need of theory and evidence. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 67(03), pp.307-316.

Swinburn, B., Sacks, G., Hall, K., McPherson, K., Finegood, D., Moodie, M. and Gortmaker, S. (2011). The global obesity pandemic: shaped by global drivers and local environments. The Lancet, 378(9793), pp.804-814.