Resumo (PT):
Abstract (EN):
The current Porto’s form and structure, resulting from a history of more than 8 centuries, show some
dysfunctions that may be materialized, for example, in some health, quality of life and well being
indicators. Having in mind some important risk factors for diabetes (type 2) – i.e. life style, diet, physical
activity - and the huge increase of this disease in recent years, we collect and analyze the frequency of
occurrence and the spatial distribution of diabetes’s admissions in Porto’s four main hospitals between
2000 and 2007. We conclude that there seem to be, at Porto, some objective and subjective conditions
related to urban planning decisions that might help to explain the diabetes’s spatial distribution. Looking
from a geographical perspective to the Porto’s urban supply and demand – biogeophysical, functional,
demographic, social and economical – we find an, at least apparent, coincidence between the areas where
the relative weight of diabetics is higher and the supply of conditions for the practice of leisure and
recreation is of lesser quality and socio-economic status of residents is more fragile (age, income,
literacy, etc.) Looking through this data relationship, it seems that Porto’s diabetes prevalence may be a
good reason to motivate citizens, urban planners and decision-makers to rethink sustainable urban
planning policies nowadays.
Language:
English
Type (Professor's evaluation):
Scientific