THE most healthy and unhealthy places in Dorset have been revealed following analysis by experts at the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC).
Specialists at CDRC investigated wellbeing by monitoring pollution levels in each Dorset neighbourhood, as well as the number of parks and recreational spaces.
The availability of health services, such as GP surgeries and pharmacies, and the number of takeaways, pubs and gambling shops were also taken into account.
Rural areas are likely to score low on the health index due to its distance from healthcare and open areas to keep fit and active.
An interactive map has now been created to display the findings.
How does the map work?
The map tracks a CDRC's health index - also known as Access to Healthy Assets and Hazards (AHAH).
It takes into consideration a number of factors, including:
- Retail environment (access to fast food outlets, pubs, off-licences, tobacconists, gambling outlets)
- Health services (access to GPs, hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, leisure services)
- Physical environment (Blue Space, Green Space - Active, Green Space - Passive)
- Air quality (Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter 10, Sulphur Dioxide).
- Each of these factors is tracked and provides an overall AHAH score for that area.
The lower the school the healthier the area is, it appears blue on the map.
The higher scores are represented with red and indicates the town is less healthy than its blue counterparts.
Areas are also ranked one to 10 healthiest areas are given a rank of one while the unhealthiest regions are classed as a 10.
If you want to check out your area in more detail you can view the whole map by clicking here.
This is how healthy each area of Dorset is:
Beaminster
On a whole, Beaminster is quite healthy with various areas scoring quite healthy on the scale.
This is down to its high air quality and access to blue/green scape.
Blandford Forum
The map of Blandford Forum is a mixed bag, with pockets of yellow and blue, indicating the town in mostly healthy.
North East area of Blandford Forum is by far the unhealthiest part of town due to its lack of green space and access to healthcare services.
The centre of Blandford Forum is among the healthiest places in the UK ranking a score of one overall.
Bridport
The centre of Bridport has been ranked the healthiest area of the town, but the further you go out of the centre, the lower-ranked other areas are.
Court Orchard and Allington areas come fourth and fifth respectively on the scale with Bothenhampton and West Bay locations neither unhealthy nor healthy.
Bradpole was ranked quite unhealthy while neighbouring villages of Loders, Walditch and Uploders deemed the unhealthiest in the area.
Burton Bradstock
While there is high air quality and little pollution in the area, Burton Bradstock ranks lowly on the map due to its lack of access to healthcare services.
Charminster
The town ranks quite high on the interactive map, thanks to its lack of access to fast food outlets, pubs, tobacconists, gambling outlets.
Dorchester
The town shows a mixture of blue, yellow and orange on the map indicating that some areas are far healthier than others.
With a score ranging between one and two, Poundbury ranks the healthiest in the town with two areas within Dorchester town centre ranked the unhealthiest.
The outskirts of Dorchester are also relatively healthy due to its high air quality.
Lyme Regis
The West Dorset town has been branded among the most healthy towns in the country.
This is largely down its high air quality, low levels of nitrogen dioxide and air pollution as well as access to GPs, dentists and pharmacies.
Neighbouring Uplyme has been dubbed unhealthy due to its lack of access to healthcare.
Portland
The map of Portland shows a primarily blue area, indicating the town is mostly healthy.
This is largely due to its limited access to fast food outlets, pubs along with high air quality and low levels of nitrogen dioxide.
Fortuneswell and Easton are among the healthiest places in the UK ranking a score of one overall.
Southwell ranks lower than other areas due to its lack of access to health services, GPs and an apparent lack of green space.
Sherborne
Sherborne ranks badly on the health scale.
Parts of Sherborne have been ranked between seventh and ninth, making them some of the unhealthiest places in the country.
The area is filled with pubs, takeaways and lacks green space and leisure services.
The city does however seem to have good access to health services.
Swanage
Swanage varies on the scale from moderately healthy to slightly unhealthy with areas scoring different results.
Herston and New Swanage are ranked the healthiest locations in the area.
Wareham
On a whole, Wareham is quite healthy with various areas scoring quite healthy on the scale.
This is down to its high air quality and access to blue/green scape.
Weymouth
On the whole, Weymouth is quite healthy with the map indicating that some areas are far healthier than others.
With a score ranging between one and two, the Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Park District and Southill areas are among the healthiest locations in the town.
Broadway and Upwey areas are ranked the unhealthiest in the town, with Preston and Overcombe dubbed also unhealthy by the map.
Wool
The parish fares quite well on the interactive map, ranking between third and fifth on the scale.
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