Gardening initiatives as an approach to cancer prevention for children and youth

Abstract

Objectives

Gardening initiatives may be used to address modifiable risk factors for cancer from an early age. This review synthesizes evidence on the effects of gardening initiatives on modifiable cancer risk factors among school-aged children and youth.

Study design

Rapid review.

Methods

A rapid review was conducted in March 2024 using databases (e.g., MEDLINE, PubMed), registers (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov), and other sources (e.g., Healthevidence.org, Google Scholar). Two reviewers independently screened and selected articles for inclusion, and one completed quality appraisal. Peer-reviewed studies from the past ten years on gardening initiatives in schools, daycares, or community settings in high-income countries were included. Studies had to report health outcomes for children and youth (aged 0–18 years) related to modifiable cancer risk factors including: nutrition behaviors, body weight, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, psychosocial factors, and ultraviolet ray (UVR) behaviors.

Results

This resulted in forty-eight included studies. Most measured outcomes related to nutrition behaviors, psychosocial factors, body weight, and PA. Fewer studies measured sedentary behavior, and none included UVR behaviors. Gardening initiatives generally led to positive nutrition behaviors (e.g., improved knowledge, dietary diversity), increased PA, decreased sedentary behavior, and improved psychosocial factors (e.g., depression, social cohesion). Effects on body weight and abdominal adiposity were inconclusive.

Conclusions

Gardening initiatives in educational and community settings could help prevent cancer by improving diet, PA, and psychosocial health in children and youth. However, more rigorous, longitudinal studies are needed to better understand their effectiveness, mechanisms, and long-term impact on cancer prevention into adulthood.