People who live in low-density housing in Melbourne's outer suburbs are at risk of developing heart disease and becoming obese due to a lack of exercise, a study by the Heart Foundation has found.
The report looked at the health implications for residents who live in low-density neighbourhoods - usually on the outskirts of Melbourne - where inadequate access to public transport and other essential services, such as schools and shops, left people with no choice but to drive.
Professor Billie Giles-Corti, lead author of the report, titled "Low density development" which was written in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, said the minimum requirement for density in Victoria - 15 homes per 10,000 square metres - was "significantly lower than what we need to encourage walking and the delivery of good public transport".
"The ideal level of density from a health perspective may include a mix of housing options such as four or five storey apartment blocks, townhouses and single houses," she said.
The report found that a 10,000 square metre block with less than 20 dwellings discouraged walking, and that at least 34 houses needed to be built a block that size for public transport and other services to be economically viable.Professor Giles-Corti said that low level density housing was responsible for the shortage of public transport and social infrastructure in the outer suburbs, as houses were too spread out and the population was too low to make "mixed use planning and public transport viable".
Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Health Director Kellie-Ann Jolly said that as a result, people who lived in Melbourne's outer suburbs were forced to use their cars more often, making them less physically active and more at risk to being overweight and developing heart problems.
"Physical inactivity is the biggest risk factor for heart disease in women, and one of the biggest for people in general," Ms Jolly said.
"Our bodies need to be active ... and we know that half of all Victorians are not doing enough physical activity."
She said building new developments out in our urban fringe without walking access to amenities was "appalling".
"You need to be able to have access to services, and to be able to walk or cycle to work or school, or have access to public transport," Ms Jolly said.
"Medium density housing is optimum for creating healthy and active communities."
