As the global population continues to grow and urban areas expand, the term “green spaces” has garnered increasing attention. Green spaces encompass a wide range of environments including public parks, urban greenery, and even “blue spaces” such as beaches and ponds. These spaces improve the local environment through decreasing flood risks, improving local air quality, and providing habitats for local flora and fauna. These environments have more natural materials. Therefore, they tend to be cooler than urban spaces since the materials in buildings and streets tend to absorb more heat, mitigating the phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.
Green spaces foster social interactions and promote a sense of community. On an individual level, access to these spaces contribute to both physical and mental health. While the underlying mechanisms are complex and likely synergistic, the benefits are broad, ranging from improved immune function to reduced cardiovascular morbidity. Time spent immersed in nature has a relaxing and restorative effect, leading to significant mental health benefits, such as lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) investigated associations between green spaces and obesity in adolescents. The study expanded on prior studies that showed that adolescents with greater access to green space tended to have lower obesity levels. To measure surrounding green spaces, the researchers went beyond the satellite green space data commonly used in previous studies. Satellite imagery fails to differentiate between types of green spaces, such as a park versus an open grassy area not easily accessible to people. Consequently, the researchers combined satellite data with street-view imagery from the participants’ neighborhoods.
Green spaces affect the mental, physical, and overall well-being of individuals and communities.
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The analysis found that satellite-based green spaces closer to participants’ homes were linked to reduced BMI and waist circumference in early adolescence, as well as a lower total and truncal fat mass index in late adolescence. This was further explored with street-view analysis, which found that specific elements such as flowers, plants, and fields (as opposed to trees and grass) proximate to a participant’s home were associated with lower BMI scores in late adolescence.
This study is limited in capturing other socioeconomic factors such as the fact that wealthier neighborhoods are better equipped to maintain greenery along streets. Additionally, the observed associations were linked to green spaces during early and late adolescence, rather than mid-childhood. This could reflect the increased independence adolescents tend to have to explore and benefit from green spaces on their own, or it may indicate a cumulative effect of long-term proximity to green spaces. Given the growing body of research supporting the benefits of green spaces, it is crucial to prioritize their inclusion in future urban planning. Doing so can promote community wellness and contribute to preventive healthcare efforts.
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