Green cities and health
It may be pleasant to live in green cities, but does this also have a measurable effect on health?
Medical research suggests it does. The British Medical Journal recently published the results of a pan-European study investigating the strConection between greenery and obesity. While the results were controlled for age, sex, socio-economic status, and city of residence, and excluded respondents who reported having a physical handicap or constraint, the results showed a clear pattern: "For respondents whose residential environment contains high levels of greenery, the likelihood of being more physically active is more than three times as high, and the likelihood of being overweight and obese is about 40 per cent less. Conversely, for respondents whose residential environment contained high levels of 'incivilities', the likelihood of being more physically active is about 50 per cent less, and the likelihood of being overweight or obese is about 50 per cent higher". The article concluded: "Higher levels of greenery … in residential environments are associated with being physically active and not being overweight or obese; efforts to promote activity and reduce weight should take into account environmental facilitators and barriers".
While green cities encourage people to be more physically active, there are other factors that make green cities healthy cities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published guidance for local planning authorities on how to build healthy cities. Its title is telling: Green cities, blue cities.10 The WHO explains that greenery is an essential part of a healthy environment as it absorbs carbon dioxide and emits oxygen. Trees' leaves collect dust and their phytoacids act as bactericides; many plants are also effective noise barriers. Last but not least, by regulating the micro-climate they help to deal with the problem of urban hot-spots.
Jul 06
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