title: School gardens and adolescent nutrition and BMI: Results from a national, multilevel study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to determine the impact of school gardens on student eating behaviors, physical activity and BMI in New Zealand secondary schools. The current study also aimed to determine if school gardens could buffer the association between household poverty and adolescent BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from a national study of the health and wellbeing of New Zealand secondary school students (n=8500) conducted in 2012. Multilevel regression models were used to determine the association between school gardens (school-level) and student nutrition behaviors, physical activity and measured BMI (student-level).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately half of secondary schools had a fruit/vegetable garden for students to participate in. School gardens were associated with lower student BMI (p=0.01) and lower prevalence of overweight (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School gardens appear to have a positive impact on student health. Future research may explore how school gardens are implemented to better understand their impact and to extend the benefits beyond the school community.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: j.utter@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utter
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dyson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools
keywords: Adolescent; BMI; Garden; Multilevel; Nutrition; School