If you live in a town that’s home to many locally owned businesses you have a longer life expectancy, less chance of being overweight and a lower risk of diabetes. Research by scientists at Louisiana State University (LSU) and Baylor shows that communities dominated by big-box stores and national retail chains have poorer health.

“…we often think of the economic benefits and job growth that small business generates, but we don’t think of the social benefits to small communities,” says Troy C. Blanchard, Ph.D., a researcher who is an associate professor of sociology at LSU. “This study highlights not only the economic benefits of small business, but its contributions to health and well-being.”

The LSU and Baylor researchers analyzed data from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the 2007 Centers for Disease Control Obesity and Diabetes Estimates, the National Center for Health Statistics Compressed Mortality records from 1994 to 2006, the 2002 County Business Patterns and the 2002 Nonemployer Statistics.

“Our findings suggest that the rewards of a vibrant small business sector are multi-dimensional,” Blanchard said. “In addition to job creation, small businesses yield important non-economic rewards to communities that may improve the health of local residents.”