Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy · Nov 7, 2026
Which Neighbourhood Green Spaces Matter for Overweight and Obesity? The Roles of Neighbourhood Context, Vegetation Type, and Age Differences
By Guo Z, Song J, Yang Q
Evidence linking neighbourhood green space with obesity remains inconsistent, partly because previous studies have often treated green space as a homogeneous environmental exposure and overlooked differences in vegetation composition, spatial context, and population characteristics. This study examined the relative predictive importance of neighbourhood green space characteristics for overweight/obesity status according to spatial location, vegetation type, and age group. We analysed questionnaire data from 789 residents across 12 neighbourhoods in Suzhou, China. Eye-level green-space exposure was quantified using street view imagery (SVI) and deep-learning semantic segmentation to distinguish overall greenery, grass, and tree cover within and outside neighbourhood boundaries. XGBoost models combined with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were applied to evaluate the relative predictive importance of different green space characteristics in predicting overweight/obesity status. Results showed that green spaces within neighbourhood boundaries had greater relative predictive importance than green spaces outside neighbourhood boundaries. The Green View Index (GVI) within neighbourhoods was the most influential environmental indicator contributing to lower predicted probabilities of overweight/obesity at higher GVI values. Among vegetation types, neighbourhood grass had the greatest relative predictive importance, whereas tree cover was less important overall. Tree cover had greater relative predictive importance than grass within the model fitted to older residents, whereas grass had the highest relative predictive importance within the younger-resident model. These findings indicate that the predictive relevance of neighbourhood green space depends not only on its spatial location and vegetation composition, but also on the population group considered. Neighbourhood green space planning that considers the location and composition of green space, together with the needs of different population groups, may support healthier and more equitable urban environments.