- FRIDAY, Nov. 14 (HealthDay News) - Greener neighborhoods, with
lots of trees, help inner city kids keep excess pounds at bay, according
to a U.S. study.

“Previous work, including our own, has provided snapshots in time, and
shown that for children in densely population cities, the greener the
neighborhood, the lower the risk of obesity. Our new study of over 3,800
inner-city children revealed that living in areas with green space has a
long-term positive impact on children's weight and thus health,” study
senior author Gilbert C. Liu, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the
Indiana University School of Medicine, said in a school news release.

The children in the study, ages 3 to 18 years, were in the same
residence for more than 24 consecutive months. Higher neighborhood
“greenness” was associated with slower increases in body mass index (BMI)
over time, regardless of age, race or sex, said the researchers. They
added this slowing of BMI could reduce the risk of child obesity in the
long term.

The findings were published in the December issue of the American
Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Trees and other urban vegetation improve a neighborhood's appearance,
reduce pollution, and keep the area cooler in the summer — all of which
encourage children to be outside playing, walking and running, the team
said.

Being active reduces the risk of obesity, which is associated with a
number of health problems including type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension,
sleep apnea and emotional distress. Obese children are likely to become
obese adults.

“Obesity is a national epidemic necessitating the involvement of
health-care providers, parents, and the community,” Liu said. “Our
lifestyle makes us sedentary and less healthy. For children, physical
activity is active play, and that usually takes place outdoors. We need to
encourage them to go outside and play. I love the idea that we can
landscape for health.”

More information

The Nemours Foundation has more about overweight and obesity in children.