Gardening and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey

Objectives Gardeners may have better health outcomes, and consume more fruits and vegetables (F&V), than non-gardeners. However, this evidence is mainly based on small, non-representative samples. The purpose of this study was to understand differences in dietary and health outcomes between gardeners and non-gardeners using physical activity data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Methods Adults (age 18+) with complete self-reported physical activity (PA) data were included. Participants were grouped as those who: (1) did not engage in any PA (non-exercisers), (2) reported gardening as their first or second PA (gardeners), or (3) reported any PA other than gardening (exercisers). Logistic and linear regression models identified associations between cardiovascular disease risk factors (self-reported, yes/no for body mass index (BMI)≥ 25 kg/m2, high cholesterol, or hypertension) or F&V intake (times/day, continuous) and group after controlling for age, race, sex, and education level. Results The sample (n = 396,261) was 55% women, majority white (81%), with more than a high school education (66%), and a mean age of 51 years. It was 7.6% gardeners, 65.2% other exercisers, and 27.2% non-exercisers. Gardeners were significantly more likely than exercisers or non-exercisers to be women (60.7% v. 49.3% and 53.4%, P < 0.001), white (85.2% v. 74.7% and 71.2%, P < 0.001), and aged 65+ (36.9% v. 18.8%, 25.9%, P < 0.001). Gardeners consumed more F&V than exercisers and non-exercisers (3.0, v. 2.9, 2.2 times/day, respectively, P < 0.01). Similar significant differences were observed when we further adjusted for aforementioned covariates. Compared to gardeners, non-exercisers were more likely to have a BMI ≥ 25 (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.2, P < 0.01), high cholesterol (aOR = 1.1, P < 0.01), and hypertension (aOR = 1.2, P < 0.01). Exercisers were less likely than gardeners to have each of these conditions (aOR = 0.93 for BMI ≥ 25; aOR = 0.88 for high cholesterol; and aOR = 0.87 for hypertension; all P < 0.01). Conclusions Gardeners consume F&V more frequently than both exercisers and non-exercisers and they have fewer CVD risk factors than non-exercisers. Given these CVD preventative benefits, gardening should be recommended as a PA particularly for those with diet-related chronic diseases. Funding Sources None.