Abstract
Collective gardens are developing in many cities as a tool to promote the health and well-being of urban dwellers. We conducted a systematic review of the literature of studies using quantitative methods to explore the relationship between participation in community gardens and health of urban adults. Of 1430 articles identified, 18 were included in the systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quantitative Study Quality Assessment Tool developed by the EPHPP. Collective gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as better mental and social health. Mixed results were found for BMI, physical activity and other physical health outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies was weak, mainly due to their cross-sectional design (n = 14/18) and high risk of selection bias (n = 15/18). More longitudinal studies with pre-post evaluation and presence of a control group are needed to determine whether community gardens can be an effective tool to promote the health of city dwellers.
Translated title of the contribution | Urban collective garden participation and health: A systematic literature review |
---|---|
Original language | French |
Pages (from-to) | 300-320 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Cahiers de Nutrition et de Dietetique |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Allotment garden
- Community garden
- Fruit and vegetables
- Physical activity
- Well-being