Background: This study examined the association between access to urban green spaces and markets with anthropometric measurements, biological markers, sociodemographic, and healthy lifestyle.
Methods: Geographic information systems were used to establish a correlation between environmental features and cardiovascular risk parameters. A total number of 832 (age range 18-74 years) individuals were selected for this study.
Results: Body mass index was significantly and positively related to the distance to parks (ρ = 0.079, p < 0.05), but negatively related to the distance to markets (ρ = -0.125, p < 0.05). In addition, waist circumference was similar and positively related to distance to parks (ρ = 0.097, p < 0.05) and negatively related to distance to markets (ρ = -0.092, p < 0.05). With respect to biochemical parameters, when there was an increase in the distance to markets, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased and glycemia decreased.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the importance of the role of environmental factors such as parks and markets in the development of cardiovascular risk.
Keywords: anthropometric measurements; biological markers; cardiovascular diseases; geographic information system; healthy lifestyle.