Relationship between the Duration of Urban Nature and a Lower Waist-Hip Ratio

Pongsakorn Suppakittpaisarn, Nadchawan Charoenlertthanakit, Ekachai Yaipimol, Vipavee Surinseng, Chulalux Wanitchayapaisit and Gunwoo Kim ()
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Pongsakorn Suppakittpaisarn: Landscape Design and Environmental Management Studio, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Nadchawan Charoenlertthanakit: Landscape Design and Environmental Management Studio, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Ekachai Yaipimol: Landscape Design and Environmental Management Studio, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Vipavee Surinseng: Landscape Design and Environmental Management Studio, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Chulalux Wanitchayapaisit: Landscape Design and Environmental Management Studio, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Gunwoo Kim: Graduate School of Urban Studies, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: Obesity is a prevalent health issue. Evidence suggests that the availability of urban nature may reduce the risks of obesity. However, several knowledge gaps remain. This study explores the relationships between the dose (distance, duration and frequency) of urban nature and demographic factors towards obesity risks among people in Thailand. A total of 111 participants in three urban and peri-urban nature locations answered a survey regarding their distance from green spaces, frequency of visits, and duration of their typical stay, as well as their socio-demographics, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). The results suggested that at least 1–2 h per typical visit to nature predicted low-risk WHR in women. Male participants are more likely to have a high-risk WHR. Increasing age predicted low-risk WHR. Spending more time in green spaces predicted lower odds of high-risk WHR, while distance did not predict the odds. This research is one of the first to study the relationship between time spent in nature and obesity, and one of the first nature and health studies conducted in Thailand. Given that Thailand is one of the countries most affected by obesity in Southeast Asia, this study is relevant and essential. Future research should explore the quality factors of the park with longer duration of stay.

Keywords: green infrastructure; obesity; adiposity; Southeast Asia; nature and human health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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