A major international study has found that city dwellers living near parks and green spaces are significantly less likely to die prematurely from any cause, including heart disease, cancer and dementia. The research, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, analysed nine existing studies involving eight million people across seven countries.
The findings, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, show that for every two per cent increase in greenness within 500 metres of a person's home, there is a four per cent lower chance of early death. Researchers used satellite images to measure the distance between participants' homes and green spaces, cross-referencing this with health records over several years.
Urban parks improve air quality by filtering toxic pollutants, offer free spaces for exercise, and benefit mental health and stress levels, the team said. A separate review by the University of California, Los Angeles, found that children living within a third of a mile of a park had a lower risk of obesity by age 18 and fewer chronic health problems later in life.
Lead author David Rojas said: 'This is the largest and most comprehensive synthesis to date on green space and premature mortality. The results support interventions and policies to increase green spaces as a strategy to improve public health.' The research team, which includes experts from the World Health Organization, is now applying the results to estimate preventable premature deaths in cities worldwide.
