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Urban gardening and its associations with diet and health in Palau facing an obesity crisis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: Despite growing evidence of urban gardening’s health benefits, studies in the Pacific Islands facing an obesity crisis remain extremely limited. In Palau, compared with non-gardeners, urban gardeners had a 0.86-point higher dietary diversity score ( p < 0.001 ), 2.92 kg/m 2 lower BMI ( p = 0.011 ), and 3.49-fold higher odds of reporting good health ( p < 0.001 ). These findings suggest the importance of integrating urban gardening into public health and spatial strategies.

Source: npj Urban Sustainability

DOI: 10.1038/s42949-026-00472-4

Authors: Akiko Iida, Chihiro Tsuchiya-Theorin, Yin Yin Nwe, Takahiro Yamazaki, Ngirbechat Arsenio, Christopher Kitalong, Makoto Yokohari, Takuro Furusawa

Institutions: Rikkyo University, The University of Tokyo, Kobe University, University of Guam, Palau Community College

Language: English

Topic: Urban Agriculture and Sustainability

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,490

Funders: Google, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Awards: Political Ecology in Oceania under the New Global Order, Impacts of Sea-level Rise and Adaptation on Oceanic Populations and Future Scenarios

OpenAlex ID: W7204864799

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