Back in the 1990s, the U.S. federal government tried an unusual social experiment: It offered thousands of poor women in big-city public housing a chance to live in more affluent neighborhoods, AP reported.

A decade later, the women who relocated had lower rates of diabetes and extreme obesity. The small-but-significant differences offered some of the strongest support yet for the idea that where you live can significantly affect your overall health, especially if your home is in a low-income area with few safe places to exercise, limited food options and meager medical services.