How does the environment affect

one's Health both physically and

mentaly?
The environment has an effect on the human mind and it's overall behavior, with the

environment being able to affect one to be physically active. The environment itself is not the

only factor that has an effect on one’s decisions and judgments. The social and cultural

environment can also have a big impact on one to be physically active. People are affected by

their environment on a physiological level, may it be from a social and cultural perspective to an

environmental point of view. Connecting these to a Physiological perspective as we take a closer

look at the fundamentals of the effect of the social & cultural environment. Using Hoops, a

journal is about different basketball hoops around the world and it's differences around different

parts of the united states, showing the different environments that there are around the united

states. This is not the only article I’m going to use, the second one is the “ benefits of physical

activity”. This article highlights the benefits of physical activity and what it can do to your body

physically and mentally. Using these in conjunction articles and journals as well as the different

perspectives, we can make a connection to why this topic is more important now with these

events that have happened in the past year. With the virus going around and most of the

population going into lockdown, as well as the vaccines coming out there will be an influx of

people who will most likely be doing physical activity after they get their vaccination and or just

to exercise with the virus somewhat coming to a stop. While during quarantine many people

have suffered from mental illnesses like depression or just seemed fatigue. A study by the journal

of global health by Sherief Ghozy called COVID-19 and physical inactivity: Teetering on the

edge of a deadlier pandemic? In this article the paper says that there was a significant decrease in
physical activity due to social distancing and quarantine. Not to mention there has been an

increase in sedentary behavior with the decrease in physical activity after the pandemic hit, as

new studies have shown. A study by Geoffrey H. Tison, found that among 455,404 individuals

across 145 countries that there has been a decline in physical activity. Researchers found this by

tracking the amount of steps they individuals would take. They found that across all the

individuals there has been a decrease in their steps by 5.5% in the first 10 days of the declaration

of the pandemic. Later there has been a drastic drop from 5.5% to 27.3% in the past 30 days.

They expect these numbers to increase, with physical activity decreasing -32% ( Geoffrey et al.,

2020). These same problems also happen to children and adolescents. We come back to the Idea

that physical and mental health is important because of the relevance of the virus. The virus is

contagious and can be deadly to those who are affected. In an article published by BMJ Public

Health Emergency Collection, found that those who contracted the virus and were not physically

active, had a higher chance of being hospitalized, in the ICU, or dead even. In fact, they suggest

that adults consistently meet physical activity guidelines to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19

outcomes (Sallis et al., 20201). In addition, to the article saying to meet physical activity

guidelines, the world health organisation had set out some social media campaigns to promote

physical activity at home because physical inactivity can be harmful to one's health. In addition,

there are also many health complications that may arise from physical inactivity. An inactive

lifestyle is unhealthy (Health Risks of an Inactive Lifestyle 2021). Reason being, you burn fewer

calories, lose muscle strength and endurance, weaker bones, lower metabolism, and other

multitude of ways physical inactivity can affect your body (Health Risks of an Inactive Lifestyle

2021). Some of the health risks that are prevalent when in a physically inactive lifestyle.

However, those were just some of the effects that can happen to the body due to physical
inactivity, there are still many health problems and complications that may arise from physical

inactivity. An example would be obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,

strokes, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and even develop anxiety and depression (Health Risks

of an Inactive Lifestyle 2021). There are still more health complications and problems that are

not listed.

It is important to see how our environment affects us. With covid still around, we are

starting to feel it’s effects. Not only in social aspects, but also in our lifestyles and the

physiological effects that might come with it. Due to sustained Quarantine and also social

distancing, there has been an increase in physical inactivity and a boost in mental illness. With

people being stressed out on the idea of losing their jobs and contracting the virus, as well as

losing their loved ones to it. A large Number of adults in the United states do not meet the

physical activity requirements, putting them at risk of many health problems. The U.S National

Library of medicine states in their study, an adult would have a positive association in a

recreational environment, and would lead to physical activity. A study performed by U.S

national Library of Medicine states, “Past studies have suggested that a link between health

outcomes and green space is due to increased levels of physical activity of individuals living in

areas with more green space.” Furthermore, later in the article, these green spaces offer a safe

place for these people to do physical activities. Green spaces are an environmental influence that

promotes physical activity by offering a safe, accessible, and appealing place to do any physical

activity. Green spaces can also be constructed and or molded to promote physical activity. An

article by the name of The Impact Green Spaces on Physical and Mental Health, in addition to

the idea of molding and or construction green spaces was the idea by a inLisbon Metropolitan
Area in Portugal. This city found that if green spaces were about 400 meters, the result was that

physical activity had an increase. The use of green spaces is determined by other factors.

Location plays a big part in how we perceive the green spaces and how effective the green

spaces will be in the environment they are located in. For example A green space would be more

beneficial if it were in an urban area, then a suburban area or rural for that matter. In the example

mentioned above, urban green spaces are most likely to be used, therefore increasing physical

activity. Parks are a good example of a green space. Facilitating the idea of being physically

active. Stated before these spaces provide a safe place where one is able to exercise and engage

in any physical activity.

Not only can a physical environment have an effect on being more active, it can also have

a mental impact. It is important to understand what effect the environment provokes. In this case

green spaces are a great place for people to unwind, become less stressed. Greenspaces are able

to provide a positive mood. In a article called The Association between Green Space and

Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review, by Int J Environ Res Public Health, has

stated that “ Synthesis suggests beneficial associations between green space exposure and

reduced stress, positive mood, less depressive symptoms, better emotional well-being, improved

mental health and behaviour, and decreased psychological distress in adolescents” (Zhang et al.,

2020). Later on the paper shows a study performed on 14 students who would visit these green

spaces. The findings were, there was a correlation between the mental health of the adolescents

and the greenspaces. With 8 out of the 14 students having experienced "reported a significant

positive relationship between green space and adolescents’ mental well-being”. In addition,

another article called The effect of green spaces on physical and mental health, funded by
URBACT Health & Greenspace network discovered, at an individual level there was an increase

in incidence of mental illness with the lack of content with natural spaces (Zhang et al., 2020). In

addition, people who visit green space are most likely to have a lower rate of getting a mental

illness. A study called Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of

psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood by Kristine Engemann, showed that with a

strong presence with green spaces during childhood there is a correlation between the

development of the child and a lower risk of developing psychiatric disorders later in life. With

Children being up 55% higher across various disorders, more likely to develop a psychiatric

disorder then those who did not. Some of the mental health issues that the green spaces helped

reduce were depression, schizophrenia, and improving children's cognitive ability, and reduce

neural activity linked to psychiatric disorders (Engemann et al., 2019). In addition, the closer one

moves to a green space or natural area, the likelihood the person is to have a better overall

mental health. Overall study concluded that the overall presence of green spaces during

childhood was associated with having better mental health later in their life and development

(Engemann et al., 2019).

Even so, many may suggest that the environment is not the problem and people can easily

exercise in Urban areas just as well as rural areas or make an assumption that the environment in

fact does not have an effect one one to be more physically active than another. I beg to differ, the

reason being is that there are in fact environmental barriers that may prevent others from being

physically active. An article published by Harvard T.H. CHAN school of public health, found

many factors that go into what can affect a person or adolescent to be physically active. One

thing that can affect one to be physically active is their family. Families can set an example for
their children to be physically active. In addition, the families played a part in the child's

development. With the family's role to encourage and motivate, as well as set an example for

them to be more physically active. However, this is not the only thing that can affect one.

Neighborhood characteristics can also affect physical activity with their access to areas

recreation facilities. An example of how neighborhoods have an affect on physical activity would

be, social economics and disparities that might come with families who come from low income

families and neighborhoods. This social disparity and living in a low income area can lead to less

recreation spaces. In the same way, Additional studies suggest that a neighborhood's

environmental characteristics can play a role in physical activity whether one's own motivation

or acknowledgment. Such things as safety, lighting, weather, and air pollution are related to

affect one's physical activity levels. Therefore, having less accessible places where people can do

physical activities. In fact, there have been studies that have concluded that having more

recreation areas where people and children can go, have proven to have a healthier lifestyle.

Later the article by Harvard Cites many more articles. For example, an article called

Neighborhood environment and physical activity among youth, a review by Ding Ding and other

authors. The paper goes into the idea of walkability and sprawl. The idea being that the closer

things are to their neighborhood and or closer to where they live the people are most likely to

walk to the place rather than drive. The opposite can be said if it were further away, the people

are most likely to drive to the place if it were further away. More so if the streets to these places

are unfriendly pedestrian streets. Other studies have shown that living in walkable

neighborhoods can increase the rate of physical activity. Moreover, there is a thing called urban

design and land use, which incompases the idea of creating an environment that promotes
physical activity. Not to mention transportation is also affected by this to get more people to

walk.

In the end, I think that green space would be a great solution to physical inactivity.

Evenso, just like any solution, this has its fair share of limitations. Not like some undeveloped

areas that some cities have, or towns, placing a green space has to be worth it. Like stated before,

if placed away from a community and their living spaces, it can make the green space not worth

going to. So it would be most beneficial if it were closer. Which in turn leads to the limitation.

The green space has to be close to people as well as big enough to be effective in reducing stress

and be enough for many people to go. Again leading us to another limitation, Green space

doesn't have to be big. Although the green space doesn't need to be big or huge, it is

recommended to be so. In fact, the more space the green spaces cover the more stress it reduces

from males and females.

References

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