Helping children develop a green thumb could have lifelong health benefits including preventing cancer, according to new work from a University of Alberta public health researcher.
"We conducted a rapid review of the literature focused on gardening initiatives for children and youth as a primary prevention opportunity to reduce cancer risk as well as build supportive social and physical environments for health more broadly," explains Christina Gillies, adjunct professor in the School of Public Health, scientist with the Centre for Healthy Communities and lead scientist (communities) in Cancer Prevention and Screening Innovation (CPSI) for Primary Care Alberta, formerly Alberta Health Services.
"We're talking about key modifiable risk factors for cancer and chronic disease like healthy eating, physical activity and less sedentary behaviour," says Gillies.
The research review showed that in 48 studies in high-income countries, gardening initiatives improved nutrition-related knowledge and eating behaviours, increased physical activity, decreased sedentary behaviour and boosted psychosocial factors like social connection and sense of belonging. The effects on body weight were inconclusive.
Gillies got the idea to investigate the topic after partnering with an Alberta First Nation community on a school-based gardening project to promote intergenerational and land-based learning, support cultural revitalization, and encourage healthy behaviours for students, staff and the broader community.
She and her team at CPSI had also observed high interest in community gardening across Alberta. There are now more than 80 community gardens in Edmonton, including the U of A's own Green and Gold Community Garden, which grows more than 60 types of vegetables, herbs and flowers with the help of volunteers.
