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. 2020 Dec 25;18(1):97.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18010097.

Green Space Exposure Association with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Physical Activity, and Obesity: A Systematic Review

Felipe De la Fuente  1 , María Angélica Saldías  1 , Camila Cubillos  1 , Gabriela Mery  1 , Daniela Carvajal  1 , Martín Bowen  2 , María Paz Bertoglia  3
Affiliations

Green Space Exposure Association with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Physical Activity, and Obesity: A Systematic Review

Felipe De la Fuente et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a public health challenge that must be addressed considering the large number of risk factors involved in its appearance. Some environmental risk factors are currently described as predictors of diabetes, with access to green spaces being an element to consider in urban settings. This review aims to study the association between exposure to green spaces and outcomes such as diabetes, obesity, and physical activity in the general population. A systematic review was carried out using the PubMed, Embase, and LILACS databases and other sources. The search strategy was carried out from October 2019 to October 2020. Cross-sectional and cohort studies were included. The article selection was made by a pair of reviewers, and data extraction was carried out using a data extraction sheet. The quality assessment of the included studies was carried out using a validated tool. Finally, 19 scientific articles were included in this review. Evidence supports that people and communities exposed to green spaces, especially in their neighborhood, reduce the risk of T2DM and reduce the risk of being obese and increase the likelihood of physical activity. The onset of T2DM can be moderated by using green spaces, improving physical activity levels, and reducing the risk of being overweight and obese.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; green spaces; obesity; overweight; physical activity; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scheme of multilevel dependency on green-space exposure and related variables. Source: own elaboration.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow diagram of the screening process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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