Researchers are studying a new type of neighborhood built around working farms called “agrihoods” to see if living near fresh food and outdoor spaces helps people eat better, exercise more, and feel more connected to their community. This is the first long-term study to compare people living in these farm-centered neighborhoods with people living in regular neighborhoods over six months. Scientists will track what people eat, how much they move around, and their overall health to understand if agrihoods really do improve how residents live and feel.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether living in a neighborhood built around a working farm helps people eat healthier foods, exercise more, improve their health markers, and feel more connected to neighbors compared to living in a regular planned neighborhood.
  • Who participated: The study will include new adult residents moving into an agrihood in Richmond, Texas, and adults already living in a similar regular neighborhood in nearby Katy, Texas. The exact number of participants hasn’t been finalized yet.
  • Key finding: This is a study protocol (a plan for research), not yet completed research. The actual results will show whether agrihoods improve diet, physical activity, health measurements, and community connections over a 6-month period.
  • What it means for you: If results show agrihoods improve health, it could influence how new neighborhoods are designed in the future. However, wait for the actual results before making decisions about where to live based on this research.

The Research Details

This is a naturalistic study, meaning researchers will observe how people actually live in real neighborhoods rather than in a controlled lab setting. The study compares two groups: people newly moving into an agrihood (a neighborhood centered around a working farm) and people living in a traditional planned neighborhood nearby. Researchers will collect information at three different times over 6 months: at the start, after 3 months, and after 6 months.

Participants will complete online surveys about their eating habits, physical activity, and neighborhood experiences. The agrihood residents will also wear special devices called accelerometers (like fitness trackers) for a week at each time point to measure how much they move. Some participants will also provide detailed food diaries, and agrihood residents will have in-person health check-ups including measurements like blood pressure and weight.

The study uses a quasi-experimental design, which means it’s not a traditional experiment where people are randomly assigned to groups. Instead, researchers are comparing people who chose to move to an agrihood with similar people in regular neighborhoods. This approach lets researchers study real-world decisions and outcomes.

Understanding how neighborhood design affects health is important because where we live influences what we eat and how much we exercise. By studying agrihoods specifically, researchers can see if this newer neighborhood design approach actually delivers on its promise to improve health. This information could help city planners and developers create healthier communities in the future.

This study has several strengths: it includes biological measurements (health check-ups), uses devices to track activity rather than relying only on memory, and follows people over time to see actual changes. The study also compares agrihood residents to a similar comparison group, which helps show whether agrihoods specifically make a difference. However, because people choose where to live, it’s harder to prove agrihoods cause health improvements versus attracting health-conscious people. The study is relatively short (6 months), so it can only measure quick changes, not long-term effects.

What the Results Show

This is a study protocol document that outlines the research plan, not the actual results. The study hasn’t been completed yet, so we don’t have findings to report. Once the 6-month study concludes, researchers will analyze data to answer their main questions: Do agrihood residents eat better? Do they exercise more? Do their health measurements improve? Do they feel more connected to their neighbors?

The researchers will use statistical methods called Difference-in-Differences models to compare how much agrihood residents change over time compared to how much the comparison group changes. This approach helps separate the effects of living in an agrihood from other factors that might affect health.

The study will also examine how much residents actually use the farm and outdoor spaces in the agrihood, what features they like best, and whether the agrihood makes economic sense for the community.

Beyond the main health questions, the study will also look at how residents spend their time in the agrihood, which features they prefer, and the economic impact of the farm-centered neighborhood. This includes examining costs like farmer pay, farm maintenance, and any public funding that supports the agrihood.

This is the first study to carefully track a group of new agrihood residents over time and compare them to similar people in regular neighborhoods. Previous research shows that neighborhood design affects eating and exercise habits, but no one has specifically studied agrihoods this way before. This study will fill an important gap in understanding whether this newer neighborhood model actually improves health.

The study only lasts 6 months, so it can only measure short-term changes, not whether benefits continue long-term. Because people choose where to live, it’s possible that health-conscious people are more likely to move to agrihoods, making it hard to know if the neighborhood itself causes improvements or if it just attracts healthier people. The study focuses on one agrihood in Texas, so results may not apply to agrihoods in other locations or climates. Additionally, the final number of participants hasn’t been determined yet, which could affect how reliable the results are.

The Bottom Line

This is a research plan, not completed research, so specific health recommendations aren’t yet available. Once results are published, they may suggest that agrihoods support healthier eating and more physical activity, but individual results will vary. Anyone considering moving to an agrihood should base decisions on multiple factors including cost, location, and personal preferences, not just potential health benefits.

City planners and developers should follow this research to understand how neighborhood design affects health. People interested in sustainable living, community gardens, or local food systems may find the results relevant. Public health officials may use findings to inform neighborhood development policies. However, the results won’t apply equally to everyone—benefits may differ based on age, income, and personal interests.

The study will take about 6 months to complete data collection. Results will likely be published 6-12 months after that. Any health benefits from agrihood living would likely appear gradually over weeks to months as residents establish new eating and exercise habits. Don’t expect immediate dramatic changes.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly vegetable and fruit servings consumed, daily steps or minutes of physical activity, and monthly feelings of neighborhood connection using a simple rating scale (1-10). Compare your baseline numbers to measurements after 4-8 weeks to see if living in a farm-centered neighborhood affects your habits.
  • Use the app to set a weekly goal to visit the agrihood farm or outdoor spaces at least twice, log meals that include produce from the farm or farmers market, and record social activities with neighbors. These specific behaviors align with what agrihoods are designed to encourage.
  • Create a dashboard showing trends in your produce intake, physical activity minutes, and social connection scores over 3-6 months. Set monthly check-ins to review progress and adjust goals. Compare your changes to your baseline measurements to see if agrihood living is affecting your health habits.

This article describes a research study protocol, not completed research results. The actual health benefits of agrihood living have not yet been proven. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used to make medical decisions or major life choices like where to live. Always consult with healthcare providers about your personal health and nutrition needs. Results from this study, once available, will apply to the specific agrihood studied and may not generalize to all neighborhoods or populations. Individual health outcomes depend on many factors beyond neighborhood design.