Study reveals link between neighborhood environments and likelihood of metabolic syndrome

Ishikawa, Japan -- Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading causes of death worldwide. Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors including hypertension and obesity, significantly increases the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases. Behavioral and lifestyle modifications, including regular physical activity, have been identified as important factors in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome. Creating activity-friendly environments can facilitate regular physical activity, thus reducing the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Unfortunately, there is limited research directly investigating this connection between the neighborhood environment and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

To address this gap, a group of researchers from Japan and Canada led by Associate Professor Mohammad Javad Koohsari from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), an adjunct researcher at the Waseda University as well, conducted a study to explore associations between an activity-friendly built environment and metabolic syndrome in a sample of Canadian adults. “Targeted policy and population-level strategies have long been recognized as a tool for preventing cardiovascular diseases and studies like these play a crucial role in shaping policy and practice through informative insights,” says Dr. Koohsari. Professor Yukari Nagai from JAIST, Professor Koichiro Oka from Waseda University, Professor Tomoki Nakaya from Tohoku University, Professor Akitomo Yasunaga from Bunka Gakuen University and Associate Professor Gavin R. McCormack from the University of Calgary, Canada, were also involved in this study.

The study utilized cross-sectional data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP), a province-wide cohort dataset in Alberta, Canada. Researchers examined data from ATP participants who completed the health and lifestyle survey, underwent physical measurements and provided biological samples, and resided in urban areas. A total of 6,718 participants were enrolled, consisting of 4,455 women and 2,263 men. The average age of the participants was 54 years and 34% of the participants had metabolic syndrome. The team measured the "greenness" of each participant’s neighborhood using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). They also examined specific features of the neighborhoods related to physical activity, such the density of homes, the number of intersections, and the number of places of interest.

The results showed that neighborhoods with a higher number of ‘points of interest’—which refers to destinations such as schools, parks, and shops—and a friendlier environment for active living were associated with fewer risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Essentially, residing in a neighborhood that offers more destinations, walkability, and opportunities for physical activity was linked to improved metabolic health. Interestingly, the researchers also found fewer health-related risk factors in areas with a higher number of homes. This can be attributed to increased access to amenities, facilitating social interaction, and reducing reliance on cars. Such environments foster active transportation, encouraging individuals to engage in walking or cycling, which further enhances their overall metabolic well-being. The study also noted that the NDVI was higher for women compared to men, indicating that women tend to live in neighborhoods with more greenery. However, no significant associations were found for NDVI or intersection density in relation to the metabolic syndrome outcomes.

The findings of the current study align with previous research, indicating that activity-friendly neighborhoods, characterized by a higher number of destinations, dwelling density, and overall active living environment friendliness, were associated with lower odds of having metabolic syndrome. “These findings indicate the importance of designing neighborhoods that encourage physical activity, as they can significantly improve overall population health,” concludes Dr. Koohsari.

The study also emphasizes the need for additional research to investigate alternative measures of residential greenness and highlights the importance of cautious interpretation when generalizing findings from non-Canadian studies, considering differences in climate, politics, healthcare systems, and culture.

 

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Reference

Title of original paper:	The contributions of neighbourhood design in promoting metabolic health
Authors:	Mohammad Javad Koohsari*, Akitomo Yasunaga, Koichiro Oka, Tomoki Nakaya, Yukari Nagai, Jennifer E Vena, and Gavin R. McCormack
Journal:	Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
DOI:	10.1057/s41599-023-01902-9

 

                                          

About Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Founded in 1990 in Ishikawa prefecture, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) was the first independent national graduate school in Japan. Now, after 30 years of steady progress, JAIST has become one of Japan’s top-ranking universities. JAIST counts with multiple satellite campuses and strives to foster capable leaders with a state-of-the-art education system where diversity is key; about 40% of its alumni are international students. The university has a unique style of graduate education based on a carefully designed coursework-oriented curriculum to ensure that its students have a solid foundation on which to carry out cutting-edge research. JAIST also works closely both with local and overseas communities by promoting industry–academia collaborative research.  

 

About Associate Professor Mohammad Javad Koohsari from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Dr Koohsari is an Associate Professor at the Creative Society Design Research Area, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Japan. He also became an Adjunct Researcher with the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, Japan. Dr Koohsari's research focuses on how built and virtual environment science can contribute to health, especially in the context of super-aged societies. Dr Koohsari has a publication record with over 110 refereed journal articles (such as at Nature Reviews Cardiology). In 2020 and 2021, he was recognised in the top 2% of most influential researchers worldwide across all scientific disciplines (Stanford University & Elsevier). He is also included in the 'Top Scientists' list in the field of 'Social Science & Humanities' for the year 2022 (Research.com). Dr Koohsari is on the editorial board member of several major journals in the field, such as Landscape & Urban Planning and Humanities & Social Sciences Communications.

 

Funding information

MJK is supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (grant 23K09701)

KO is supported by the JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research program (grant 20H04113)

TN was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research program (grant 20H00040)

GRM is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Foundations Scheme Grant (FDN-154331)

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