Green spaces impact birth weight positively

London, July 29 (IANS) Where expecting mothers live can also have a bearing on the birth weight of their babies as researchers have found that mothers who live near green spaces deliver babies with significantly higher birth weights.

"We found that overall, an increase of surrounding greenery near the home was associated with a significant increase of birth weight and decreased risk for low birth weight," said professor Michael Friger from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel.

Lowest birth weight occurred in the most economically deprived areas with lack of access to green spaces, the findings showed.

Researchers evaluated nearly 40,000 single live births from a registry birth cohort in Tel Aviv, Israel to determine the impact of green surroundings during pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Green spaces - parks, community gardens or even cemeteries - were defined as land that is partly or completely covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation.

The study appeared in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.