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Just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" such as a park can boost
mental health, researchers claim.
There is growing evidence that combining activities such as walking or cycling
with nature boosts well-being.
In the latest analysis, UK researchers looked at evidence from 1,250 people in
10 studies and found fast improvements in mood and self-esteem.
The study in the Environmental Science and Technology journal suggested the
strongest impact was on young people.
The research looked at many different outdoor activities including walking,
gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations
such as a park, garden or nature trail.
The biggest effect was seen within just five minutes.
With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive
effects were clearly apparent but were of a smaller magnitude, the study found.
Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health
changes - physical and mental - were particularly strong in the young and the
mentally-ill.
Green and blue
A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water -
such as a lake or river.
Study leader Jules Pretty, a researcher at the University of Essex, said those
who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably
benefit the most from "green exercise".
We would like to see all doctors considering exercise as a treatment where
appropriate
Paul Farmer, Mind
"Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take
a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health."
He also said exercise programmes outdoors could benefit youth offenders.
"A challenge for policy makers is that policy recommendations on physical
activity are easily stated but rarely adopted widely."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said the research
is yet further evidence that even a short period of green exercise can provide
a low cost and drug-free therapy to help improve mental wellbeing.
"It's important that people experiencing depression can be given the option of
a range of treatments, and we would like to see all doctors considering
exercise as a treatment where appropriate."
Mind runs a grant scheme for local environmental projects to help people with
mental illness get involved in outdoor activities.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8654350.stm
Published: 2010/05/01 23:01:15 GMT