Work

Is high-rise development always beneficial to health?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Previous academic literature attributes mixed–use development along with an increased number of skyscrapers as a preferred condition with several positive externalities. Objectives: to demonstrate that mixed-use development is not always beneficial to health – proxied by the prevalence of obesity. We investigate the impact of high-rise buildings on the prevalence of obesity in the US during 2011–2020 using a quadratic regression model. This specification accounts for non-monotonic variation with the independent variable. Findings indeed demonstrate that concentration of above 147 skyscrapers in a state is detrimental with regards to the projected prevalence of obesity.

Source: Social Sciences & Humanities Open

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101652

Authors: Yuval Arbel, Yuval Arbel, Yifat Arbel, Yifat Arbel, Amichai Kerner, Miryam Kerner

Institutions: Bar-Ilan University, Western Galilee College, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Emek Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,180