Over seventy per cent of the population in industrialized nations live in cities; soon, so will most of the world's population. This volume examines the impact of urban living on human health and biology. Cities pose numerous and diverse social and biological challenges to human populations which bear little resemblance to the forces that moulded human biology through millions of years of evolution. Urban populations in industrialized nations have distinctive patterns of behaviour, social stratification, stress, infectious disease, diet, activity and exposure to pollutants from years of industrialization. These features affect diverse aspects of human function including human nutrition, energy expenditure, growth and reproduction. This volume begins with an introduction to the history of urbanism and poverty, infectious disease, reproductive function, child health, nutrition, physical activity and psychosocial stress. The book will appeal to workers in urban planning, human biology, anthropology, preventative medicine, human ecology and related areas.
• Urban living is THE most important and widespread change in human living conditions ever, and will be experienced by most of the world's population within the next few years • Covers direct and indirect effects of city-living on our health, biology and behaviour in already industrialised nations • Written by prestigious experts from a wide range of disciplines from medicine to social science
Contents
List of contributors; Part I. The Urban Environment: 1. Urbanism, urbanisation, health and human biology: an introduction Lawrence M. Schell and Stanley J. Ulijaszek; 2. Urbanisation and urbanism in industrialised nations, 1850–present: implications for health A. J. McMichael; 3. Urban development and change: present patterns and future prospects David Clark; 4. Traditional environments: health and the perception of permanence in urban micro-environments R. Huss-Ashmore and C. Behrman; Part II. Epidemiology: 5. Emerging infectious diseases: biology and behaviour in the inner city George DiFerdinando; 6. Fecundity and ovarian function in urban environments P. T. Ellison; 7. Pollution and child health L. M. Schell and A. D. Stark; 8. Urbanism and health in industrialised Asia J. Peters; Part III. Poverty and Health: 9. Urban poverty and nutrition in the United Kingdom E. Dowler; 10. Poverty, nutrition and obesity in the USA F. E. Johnston and P. Gordon-Larsen; 11. Nutritional status and its health consequences among low-income urban pregnant women: diet and environmental toxicants S. Czerwinski; Part IV. Behaviour and Stress: 12. Urbanism and psychosocial stress Tessa M. Pollard; 13. Physical activity, lifestyle and health of urban populations S. J. Ulijaszek; 14. HIV transmission in urban environments: London and beyond M. Parker; Part V. The Future: 15. The future of urban environments S. J. Ulijaszek and L. M. Schell; Index.
Printer friendly version