This study focused on the association between school gardens and adolescent health. Its specific aim was to determine the impact of school gardens on student eating behaviors, physical activity and BMI. A second aim was to determine if school gardens could buffer the association between household poverty and adolescent BMI.
This research was conducted in New Zealand as a part of a national study of the health and well-being of secondary school students. A total of 8500 randomly-selected students from 91 randomly-selected schools participated in the study. The students completed an anonymous survey about their health and well-being; senior administrators from each of the schools completed a survey about the school environment including a question asking if they had a school garden. Trained research staff took height and weight measurements of all participating students and then calculated their body mass index (BMI). The student survey included questions relating to such demographic information as age, sex, and ethnicity. The survey also included questions relating to frequency of fruit and vegetable intake, frequency of eating fast food, and indicators of household poverty.
Approximately half of the secondary schools had a fruit/vegetable garden for students to participate in; and approximately half of all participating students attended schools with gardens. Students with access to school gardens had lower BMI scores and healthier weights. They also reported less frequent fast food consumption. There seemed to be no difference between either the physical activity levels or the fruit/vegetable intake of students with and without access to school gardens. Students from low-income households seemed to benefit the most from access to school gardens.
These findings are consistent with other studies indicating that school gardens appear to have a positive impact on student health.
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