title: Greener living environment healthier people?: Exploring green space, physical activity and health in the Doetinchem Cohort Study.
abstract: Evidence is emerging that more green space in the living environment is associated with better health, partly via the pathway of physical activity.
  
  
  
  We explored the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between green space and physical activity and several health indicators in the Doetinchem Cohort Study.
  
  
  
  A random sample of men and women aged 20-59years at baseline was measured max 5 times with 5year-intervals in the period 1987-2012. Data of round 3-5 were used. Measurements were based on examinations (height, weight, blood pressure) or questionnaires (physical activity, perceived health, depressive symptoms, chronic conditions). The percentage of green space (mainly urban and agricultural green) around the home address (125m and 1km) was calculated using satellite data.
  
  
  
  More agricultural green was associated with less time spent on bicycling (β1km=-0.15, 95%CL -0.13; -0.04) and sports (β1km=-0.04, 95%CL -0.07; -0.01) and more time spent on gardening (β1km=0.16, 95%CL 0.12; 0.19) and odd jobs (β1km=0.10, 95%CL 0.05; 0.15), and this was in the other direction for urban green. For only a few of the many health indicators a positive association with green was found, and mainly for total green within 1km radius. Longstanding green or a transition to more green did not show more pronounced associations with health.
  
  
  
  For the green space range of the Doetinchem area the findings do not strongly support the hypothesis that the percentage of green in the living environment affects health positively. The distinction by type of green may, however, be relevant for physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands. Electronic address: susan.picavet@rivm.nl.
authors.forename: H Susan J
authors.initials: HSJ
authors.lastname: Picavet
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ivon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Milder
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hanneke
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kruize
authors.affiliation: Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Cultural Geography, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjerp
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wendel-Vos
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chronic diseases; Cohort studies; Green space; Health; Obesity; Physical activity; SF36