Community Gardeners Least Likely to Be Overweight
Previous studies have shown that community gardeners provide both nutritional and social benefits to neighborhoods.
People who participate in community gardens (community gardeners) tend to have a much lower body mass index than their non-gardening counterparts. A team from the University of Utah reported in the American Journal of Public Health. Previous studies have shown that community gardeners provide both nutritional and social benefits to neighborhoods. Explained lead author Cathleen Zick. “But until now, we didn’t have data to show a measurable health benefit for those who use the gardens.” The Utah team used BMI (body mass index) to measure how close or far people were from their ideal body weight. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight, but is commonly used for the detection of obesity, overweight or underweight. A healthy BMI for a typical adult ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. BMI is not a good measurement for intense athletes or especially muscular people. The researchers used unique administrative data to evaluate the relationship between community gardening and health outcomes. They compared BMI and the probability of being obese/overweight with three typical community gardener control groups:
Unrelated people from the same neighborhood group
These people share the same physical environment. Including how close local shops and stores were, economic statuses and walkability.
Same sex group brothers
In order to influence the family, such as genetics, diet and exercise.
Gardener Spouses Group
These people share similar food choices and lifestyles, including the benefits of food grown in the community garden. The researchers linked 375 horticulturists to body mass index information. They then used driver’s license records to construct a sample of neighbors who could match the age, gender, and residential locations. Siblings and spouses find themselves accessing data from Utah wedding, divorce and birth records. The team eventually had complete data on 198 gardeners and 67 spouses. People who use community gardens are less likely to be overweight or obese. Zick and his team found that:
Compared to unrelated people in the same neighborhood group
The average female BMI of the community of gardeners was 1.84 lower than the average of their neighborhood. That is, 11 pounds (4.98 kilos) thinner for a tall woman. Community average BMI for male gardeners was 2.36 lower than their neighborhood average. That’s 16 pounds (7.25 kilos) thinner by one inch. Community gardeners were 46% less likely to be overweight/obese than the average women in their neighborhood. Male community gardeners were 62% less likely to be overweight/obese than their average male neighbors.
Compared to the same sex sibling group
Community gardeners had a BMI lower than 1.88 than their sisters. Male community gardeners had a BMI less than 1.33 than their brothers.
Compared to the gardener spouse group
Spouses of male or female community gardeners were not more likely to be obese/overweight. The researchers said this is not surprising, since they probably benefited from eating vegetables and helping with gardening activities.
