Greenspace and Obesity

In this article from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine Neighborhood Greenness and 2-Year Changes in Body Mass Index of Children and Youth, the researchers found that children with more access to green areas are more likely to stay near normal weight for their age and gender.

Janice F. Bell, Ph.D., of the University of Washington in Seattle and colleagues examined the association between body mass index (BMI) z-score (the number of standard deviation units that BMI deviates from the mean reference value for age and gender), greenness and residential density in 3,831 children (3 to 16 years old) who received well-child care in Marion County in Indiana. Greenness was determined from satellite images.

The researchers found that children living in greener areas were significantly more likely to have a lower BMI z-score and less likely to have increases in their BMI z-scores over the two-year period. They also found that residential density was not associated with BMI z-scores regardless of greenness.

The conclusion of the researchers was that these findings support the exploration of the promotion and preservation of greenspace within neighborhoods as a means of addressing childhood obesity.

What a novel idea; get the kids outside and promote some real physical activity. How do we convince kids and parents that TV and video games are not healthy activities? Combine this with junk food and limited physical exercise and we get a generation of overweight kids and adults.