Which Green Space Metric Best Predicts a Lowered Odds of Type 2 Diabetes?

Soumya Mazumdar, Shanley Chong, Thomas Astell-Burt, Xiaoqi Feng, Geoffrey Morgan and Bin Jalaludin
Additional contact information
Soumya Mazumdar: South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales Medicine, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Shanley Chong: South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales Medicine, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
Thomas Astell-Burt: Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (Power Lab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Xiaoqi Feng: Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (Power Lab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Geoffrey Morgan: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
Bin Jalaludin: Population Health Intelligence, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The choice of a green space metric may affect what relationship is found with health outcomes. In this research, we investigated the relationship between percent green space area, a novel metric developed by us (based on the average contiguous green space area a spatial buffer has contact with), in three different types of buffers and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We obtained information about diagnosed T2D and relevant covariates at the individual level from the large and representative 45 and Up Study. Average contiguous green space and the percentage of green space within 500 m, 1 km, and 2 km of circular buffer, line-based road network (LBRN) buffers, and polygon-based road network (PBRN) buffers around participants’ residences were used as proxies for geographic access to green space. Generalized estimating equation regression models were used to determine associations between access to green space and T2D status of individuals. It was found that 30%–40% green space within 500 m LBRN or PBRN buffers, and 2 km PBRN buffers, but not within circular buffers, significantly reduced the risk of T2D. The novel average green space area metric did not appear to be particularly effective at measuring reductions in T2D. This study complements an existing research body on optimal buffers for green space measurement.

Keywords: green space; circular buffer; network buffer; health outcomes; type 2 diabetes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4088/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4088/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4088-:d:535156

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().