Study Reveals Green Spaces Increase Birth Weight

Researchers found strong evidence that proves pregnant women residing near green spaces deliver babies with higher birth weights.

The study, led by researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of Negev, highlighted the impact of living in green surroundings during pregnancy. They found that mothers residing in green spaces deliver babies with significantly higher birth weights. The finding is based on the evaluation of 40,000 single live births taken from the registry birth cohort in Tel Aviv, Israel.

­Several researchers have explored the impact of parks and green spaces on human health. Green spaces in towns and cities are known to have a long-lasting positive impact on a person's mental health. Studies have also highlighted how every 10 percent increase in green space is linked with drop in diseases, which is equal to an increase of five years of life expectancy. Seniors can keep depression at a bay by shifting to a greener locality.

The latest study found that green surroundings have an impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Green space includes parks, community gardens or even cemeteries. It is the land that is either partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs or other vegetation.  

"We found that that overall, an increase of surrounding greenery near the home was associated with a significant increase of birth weight and decreased risk for low birth weight," said Prof. Michael Friger, of BGU's Department of Public Health. "This was the first study outside of the United States and Europe demonstrating associations between greenery and birth weight, as well as the first to report the association with low birth weight."

A separate analysis of the neighborhood socioeconomics showed that most economically-deprived regions with no access to green spaces increased the risk of mothers having babies with low birth weight.

"The application of remote sensing data on surrounding green areas enabled our study to take small-scale green spaces (eg, street trees and green verges) into account, while the OpenStreetMap data determined the major green spaces," Friger explained.

When a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, it is low birth weight. One in 12 babies in the U.S. is born with low birth weight.

The study was documented in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.