ZIP codes better predict health than genetic codes

Elizabeth Sobel Blum, senior community development adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas spoke during the North Texas Healthcare Summit on the intersectionality of sociological factors that can determine and effect an individual's health, according to a Dallas Business Journal report.

"Our ZIP code tends to be a bigger and more accurate predictor of our health than our genetic code," Ms. Sobel Blum said during the conference, as reported by Dallas Business Journal. "When you see health disparities, it's not just about addressing medical care. It's about addressing issues like housing, employment, income, etc."

She also added 20 percent of healthcare is determined by factors associated with the physician's office. As somebody whose job is to support community health initiatives, Ms. Sobel mentioned factors such as affordable housing, access to good jobs and health clinics, child care, schools, grocery stores and community centers all play crucial roles in community health, according to the report.

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