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Green Neighborhoods May Reduce Childhood Obesity

More natural environs encourage healthier development and behavior

October 29, 2008

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Where children live may influence whether they become obese, leading to many related health problems.

A new study published in the December 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that children living in inner city neighborhoods with higher "greenness" experienced lower weight gains compared with those in areas with less green space.

That could mean a lessening in the development of type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea and emotional distress and reduce the risk of adult obesity, which carries the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke and higher healthcare costs.

Researchers from the University of Washington, Indiana University-Purdue University and Indiana University School of Medicine followed more than 3800 children, predominantly black and poor, aged 3-16 over a two-year period.

Using satellite-imaging data to measure vegetation coverage, the investigators found that higher greenness was significantly associated with lower body mass index (BMI) changes in those children.

In previous studies of adults, residential density tended to predict physical activity levels, with highly urban environments leading to more walking, less driving and lower BMI. The current study did not find this correlation.

Children and youth in urban environments may be active in a wider variety of open spaces (e.g., yards, parks, vacant lots) and less likely to constrain activity to streets and sidewalks. Greenness might indicate proximity to parks, playfields or other open spaces that promote either physical activity or increased time spent outdoors in active play.

The study's findings align with previous research linking exposure to green landscapes with health improvements. "Among adults, greenness is associated with less stress and lower BMI, improved self-reported health and shorter post-operative recovery periods," said Janice F. Bell, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the department of Health Services at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

"Among children and youth, the positive health effects of green landscapes include improved cognitive functioning and reduced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. Ideally, future research in this area will be multidisciplinary -- involving city planners, architects, geographers, psychologists and public health researchers – and will consider the ways children live and play in urban environments," according to Bell.

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