Abstract

IntroductionSurrounding residential greenness could influence healthy behaviours. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically review the evidence of the relationships between surrounding residential greenness and a range of health-related behaviors, including physical activity, dietary habits, sleep patterns, and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to June 2024. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated via the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024578931).ResultsA total of 13 observational studies were included in the systematic review, and 7 were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 844,046 adults (mean age range: 35.0-71.4 years; 63.6% women). Higher NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) values were significantly associated with increased consumption of fruits and vegetables (OR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.09 - 1.24, n = 2). In turn, the pooled OR revealed a nonsignificant association between higher NDVI values and higher levels of light-to-vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.27; 95% CI 0.97 - 1.67, n = 5). Furthermore, higher NDVI values were not significantly associated with the odds of lower alcohol (OR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.81 - 1.14, n = 2) or tobacco (OR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.91 - 1.18, n = 2) consumption.ConclusionLiving in greener areas was associated with greater consumption of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, there was a trend toward statistical significance in the association between greater residential greenness and higher levels of physical activity. Owing to the limited number of studies, further research is needed to substantiate these findings and analyse the role of surrounding greenery on sleep quality and alcohol and tobacco use.