THE ESSENTIAL
- Living near a water point would encourage more physical activity.
- The sight of water would soothe us, explaining the reduction in stress.
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It has been demonstrated: living near green spaces (forests, parks) is beneficial for both physical and mental health. If the therapeutic virtues of trees are indeed no longer to be demonstrated, it would seem that living near a water point produces similar benefits, underlines recent research carried out by researchers at the Caledonian University of Glasgow.
This meta-analysis, which compiles some fifty studies, recalls that several studies have demonstrated the benefits of inhabitants located around water plants, in particular to reduce obesity or the risk of premature death. But the link with mental health has yet to be established, the researchers point out. It is precisely on this ground that the latter investigated.
More sport and less stress
According to their investigations, two parameters could play in favor of the health of people who live in urban areas located near water points. The first would encourage more physical activity. This is evidenced by the influx of joggers from the start of spring in the big cities, whether on the quays of the Seine in Paris or on the coasts of Marseille.
In the same vein, the authors of this post also noted that living near blue spaces would help decrease stress and anxiety. Here again, the explanation turns out to be rather simple: the sight of water would soothe us.
The authors of the publication also draw attention to the need to include more water plants in agglomerations, especially for reduce air pollution and bring freshness to the inhabitants during heat waves. However, these effects remain to be demonstrated and must be the subject of future studies, the researchers point out.
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