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Green Space and Adult Obesity in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Ghimire, Ramesh
  • Ferreira, Susana
  • Green, Gary T.
  • Poudyal, Neelam C.
  • Cordell, H. Ken
  • Thapa, Janani R.

Abstract

This paper estimates the relationship between green space and body mass index (BMI) in the U.S. We find that accounting for the heterogeneity of green space matters: BMI is significantly lower in counties with larger forestland per-capita, but not in those more abundant in rangeland, pastureland or cropland. This is after controlling for state-specific heterogeneity, and a range of environmental and natural amenities, including the presence of state parks, proximity to national parks, and outdoor recreation resources in the county, all of which have the expected negative correlation with BMI. Hence, the findings suggest that forests, public recreation lands, along with publicly available outdoor recreation resources can be valuable resources to help reduce obesity and associated public health problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghimire, Ramesh & Ferreira, Susana & Green, Gary T. & Poudyal, Neelam C. & Cordell, H. Ken & Thapa, Janani R., 2017. "Green Space and Adult Obesity in the United States," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 201-212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:136:y:2017:i:c:p:201-212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.02.002
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    4. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    5. Antonella Samoggia & Aldo Bertazzoli & Arianna Ruggeri, 2019. "European Rural Development Policy Approaching Health Issues: An Exploration of Programming Schemes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-30, August.
    6. Halkos, George & Leonti, Aikaterini & Petropoulos, Constantinos & Sardianou, Eleni, 2022. "Determinants of willingness to pay for urban parks: An empirical analysis in Greece," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    7. Yueshan Ma & Paul Brindley & Eckart Lange, 2022. "The Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Preference and Park Usage in Guangzhou, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Jiancheng Lu & Xiaolong Luo & Ningning Yang & Yang Shen, 2021. "Multiple Pathways: The Influence Mechanism of Greenspace Exposure on Mental Health—A Case Study of Hangzhou, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, March.
    9. Andreia Teixeira & Ronaldo Gabriel & José Martinho & Irene Oliveira & Mário Santos & Graça Pinto & Helena Moreira, 2023. "Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.

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