Cultivate a garden community is not just for growing vegetables! According to researchers at the University of Utah in the United States, city dwellers who regularly take care of a garden are less prone to obesity. Their body mass index (BMI) was compared to people in the same neighborhood who do not frequent gardens. The BMI of women who garden in the community is 1.84 (or 5 kg for a woman of 1.65m) lower than those who do not garden. The same goes for men, who count on average 7 kg less for a person of 1.80m than their neighbors.
The researchers are unable to establish whether their finding is that these gardeners eat more fruits and vegetables or that they exercise regularly. Either way, “this finding validates the idea that community gardens could help promote a healthier lifestyle,” says Cathleen Zick, lead author of the study. This research is part of the trend towards urban vegetable gardens or collective gardens. There are more than 18,000 in Canada and the United States, where they are very successful. In France, this practice is not yet very widespread. However, it comprises a large number of benefits in matters of dating, nutrition, health and psychology.
