Having a garden at home may be associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study led by the University of Queensland in Australia. The investigation reinforces the importance of green spaces in urban planning and suggests that gardens and parks can contribute to improving population health.
Published in the scientific journal BMC Public Health, the study concluded that people with a garden of considerable size had a 6.8% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who did not have a garden.
In addition, living near several parks was associated with a 5.7% reduction in the risk of developing the disease.
The study’s lead author, Chinonso Odebeatu, from the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, believes that the results should be taken into account in city development. “The current housing challenges mean that increasingly high-density residential developments are being built, and this investigation shows that public health considerations should be a priority in planning green spaces,” he says.
“The evidence shows that having a garden is more than an aesthetic issue, because people’s health will be affected if green spaces are not considered in housing projects,” he adds.
According to the researcher, proximity to several parks has also revealed important benefits.
“Our investigation also showed that having several parks near home was highly beneficial in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of public green spaces, such as community gardens and parks,” he adds.
More than 19,000 participants analyzed
The investigation analyzed data from more than 19,000 UK Biobank participants with type 2 diabetes, evaluating the availability of green spaces near their homes, including private gardens and parks located within a radius of 800 meters.
The authors suggest that there are several mechanisms that can explain this association.
According to Nicholas Osborne, a researcher from the University of Queensland and coauthor of the study, the benefits go far beyond physical activity. “Beyond physical activity, being outdoors in a garden also helps to improve vitamin D levels and provides the restorative benefits of contact with nature, which can significantly foster mental health,” he says.
“Being outdoors also exposes people to a diversity of microorganisms that improve gut health and strengthen the immune system,” he adds.
Green spaces as a public health strategy
The researchers argue that the results reinforce the need to integrate public health into urban planning decisions, especially at a time when the density of residential areas is increasing.
Nicholas Osborne notes that more than 500 million people currently live with diabetes worldwide and that this number could rise to 1.31 billion by 2050.
“The results of this study show how public health should be considered in urban planning, because the decisions we make today will impact our health in the future,” he concludes.
The authors note, however, that the study identifies an association between the existence of green spaces and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, not being sufficient on its own to demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
