Researchers have found that greenspace exposure affects physical activity levels, according to a study analyzing data from the Nurses’ Health Study 3 Mobile Health Substudy conducted between 2018 and 2020. The study utilized Fitbits and smartphone GPS data from participants for four separate seven-day periods throughout the year.
Street-view greenspace, including trees, grass, and other types of greenery like flowers and plants, was assessed using street-view imagery from 2019 processed with deep-learning algorithms. This information was linked to GPS data collected in ten-minute intervals. The analysis involved calculating the average steps per minute for each period following a GPS observation.
The study included 335 participants with an average age of 39.4 years, totaling over 304,000 observations. Results indicated a decrease in physical activity associated with increased tree and grass exposure. Specifically, an increase in tree coverage by interquartile range (IQR) led to a decrease of 0.36 steps per minute. Similarly, an IQR increase in grass exposure resulted in a decrease of 0.59 steps per minute but leveled off after reaching higher percentiles.
In contrast, an increase in other types of greenspace by IQR correlated with an increase of nearly two steps per minute. These effects were more pronounced during springtime and among individuals living in higher socioeconomic neighborhoods or the Northeast region.
The findings suggest that different types of greenspaces can have varying impacts on physical activity levels depending on several factors such as seasonality and socioeconomic status.
