Khaberni - In a qualitative research achievement, the first of its kind in the Arab world, a team of researchers from the College of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at Petra University published a scientific study in the prestigious international journal Nutrients, supported by the World Health Organization/Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO).
The study was prepared by Dr. Noor Al-Sahouri, Professor Dr. Omar Al-Haj, Head of the Nutrition Department at Petra University, Dr. Fadia Malhem, nutrition specialist Dr. Raba Mashrabsh, engineer Tareq Al-Farah, and Dr. Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh from the World Health Organization.
The study aimed to evaluate the impact of a five-month school gardening program, accompanied by food education sessions and sensory tasting of seasonal vegetables, on the health, knowledge, and behaviors of primary school students in Jordan.
The results showed a noticeable improvement in health indicators, with a decrease in weight and body mass index, and a general trend towards improving body structure, contributing to the prevention of obesity in children. It was also noted that there was an increase in the level of awareness and food knowledge compared to the control group, along with increased vegetable consumption and improved dietary fiber intake, and a decrease in the consumption of saturated fats and added sugars.
Positive indicators also emerged towards increasing the diversity of vegetables and fruits and adopting better options for snacks, although not all reached statistical significance during the study period, indicating that embedding deep behavioral changes requires more time.
The researchers emphasized that these results represent an important step towards integrating school gardening and food education programs within national strategies to enhance children's health, combat obesity, and establish healthy lifestyle patterns. They also highlighted the importance of building sustainable partnerships between the Ministries of Health and Education, universities, and civil society organizations to support this direction.
