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Natural Environment Nurtures Healthy Fetal Growth

MEEFRO February 6, 2023

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In contrast, greater distance to residential green space is associated with lower birth weight and higher odds of SGA. The results showed almost no associations between accessibility to green spaces and exposure and accessibility to blue spaces (

Healthy fetal growth can greatly reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes, both early and later in life. Babies with low birth weight could have an increased risk of growth impairment, lower IQ, and premature death in childhood, as well as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in adulthood.

This study was based on a sample of 69,683 newborns, with an average birth weight of 3.42 kg, of whom 6.6% were classified as SGA. For each participant, seven indicators of residential exposure to natural environments were calculated.

Surrounding green space within 100, 300, and 500 meters of the household – calculated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)-, distance to the nearest green space, accessibility to green space, distance to the nearest blue space, and accessibility to blue space.

Residential Green Space is Associated with Higher Birth Weight

They also evaluated the potential effects of modification by socioeconomic status (SES) and region of Europe. The results indicate stronger associations between residential green spaces and higher birth weight for participants with lower educational levels, from more deprived areas, and residing in the Northern European region.

These findings are in line with previous research from various regions around the world. An increasing number of studies have reported associations between maternal exposure to green spaces and higher birth weight (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Residential Greenness and Birthweight in the State of Massachusetts, USA

Go to source).

All these studies could support the implementation of policies to promote natural environments in our cities, starting with the most disadvantaged areas. Having natural environments in cities benefits children’s health from their mother’s womb and beyond.

References:

Exposure to natural environments during pregnancy and birth outcomes in 11 European birth cohorts – (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202200575X)