Street greenery is associated with healthy weight among women across 29 U.S. cities

Abstract

Background: Excess body weight is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. Studies have linked green environments to human health and wellbeing, including healthy weight. However, few have considered plausible effect pathways for ecosystem services. We introduce greenery metrics with defined spatial allocation to identify ecosystem services that may be most relevant to fitness-related health outcomes, examining their relationships with weight status across 29 U.S. cities.Methods: We used data on body mass index (BMI) and other factors collected in years 2012 – 2014 for 5,815 women from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Sister Study cohort who resided in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EnviroAtlas communities. Neighborhood greenery metrics within sidewalk, street, and circular focal areas at near (500m) and distant (2000m) neighborhood extents around residences were developed from EnviroAtlas one-meter landcover data. Sidewalk and street focal areas delineate the pedestrian environment and capture exposure to greenery for shade and aesthetics. Circular focal areas, largely inaccessible to pedestrians but potentially contributing other ecosystem services such as biodiversity support, were generated for comparison. Gradient boosted regression trees were used to model the effects of greenery on the odds of being overweight or obese (BMI > 25). Differences by regional climate (arid, continental, temperate) and age (<55, 55 – 64, and >=65) were also examined.Results: Odds ratios of being overweight or obese given a 10% increase in street greenery metrics were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87 - 0.97) or lower, with stronger effects in the arid climate (0.81, 95% CI: 068 – 0.96). Near-neighborhood greenery had stronger associations for women aged >= 65 than for other age groups.Conclusions: Greenery may facilitate healthy weight through ecosystem services in the pedestrian environment and be an easily implemented public health measure to prevent obesity. This abstract does not represent EPA policy.