People living in concrete jungles surrounded by graffiti are more likely to be obese than those from more green and pleasant areas, a study has revealed.
Research has suggested that where people live may be linked to levels of obesity and physical activity.
Evidence also suggests that high levels of "incivilities" - such as litter and graffiti - are linked to poor health.
Researchers set out to discover whether living in less pleasant areas really was linked to higher levels of obesity among adults.
The team, writing on bmj.com, analysed data from a large housing and health survey carried out in 2002-03 in eight European countries - France, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and Lithuania.
The researchers wanted to test the theory that living in pleasant areas with lots of green spaces and less rubbish might encourage people to take more exercise and reduce their risk of obesity.
So the team assessed the local environment in the cities studied, taking into account factors such as graffiti, litter and dog mess as well as levels of vegetation and greenery visible in the area.
The researchers found that people living in greener areas were three times more likely to be physically active than those living in less green places.
Their likelihood of being overweight or obese was also about 40% less.
But in contrast, those people living in areas with high amounts of litter and graffiti and less greenery were 50% less likely to be physically active.
Their likelihood of being overweight or obese was also 50% higher.
"Higher levels of greenery and lower levels of graffiti and litter in residential environments are associated with being physically active and not being overweight or obese," the researchers said.
"In efforts to promote physical activity and reduce weight,
attention should be paid to environmental facilitators and barriers
as well as individual factors."
