The evidence is in: green spaces are good for you -- and not just for the clean air they provide.
The evidence is in: green spaces are good for you—and not just for the clean air they provide.
According to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, kids from inner-city neighborhoods with parks and other green spaces gained 13% less weight over two years than children who lived in concete-heavy areas. The kids who lived in green areas had more opportunities to play outside and run around—which burns significantly more calories than playing Nintendo (yes, even a Wii).
Earlier studies document other ways that green is good for you: kids with ADD have shown decreased symptoms when they spend time in the great outdoors, and a study of 3,000 Tokyo residents demonstrated that those who lived near walkable green areas lived longer than those who did not.
Luckily, the U.S. government is beginning to respond to such research, implementing statutes such as the “No Child Left Inside Act,” which is designed to create public initiatives to get children outdoors.
If you’ve got a child, though, don’t wait for the government to take a stand—take a trip to your local park today. After all, it’s great for grown-ups, too.