The impact of developing green and exercise-friendly spaces in deprived neighborhoods on health and healthy lifestyles: A systematic literature review

Policymakers must be informed about the effectiveness of different interventions to be able to make the best allocation of resources. This systematic review aims to assess the impact on health and healthy lifestyle indicators of building or refurbishing green spaces in socially deprived neighborhoods. Twelve studies were included. The PRISMA statement guidelines were followed. Despite being positive, the evidence was weak when analyzing variations in physical activity levels. In addition, no significant changes in self-reported health and quality of life were found. The lack of studies on this topic reinforces the need for more research, to assess, for example, how the reported results vary when the characteristics of the target population change or if those results hold over time.