Outdoors 'Measurably Improves Health'
A new study suggests that walking, climbing and even just being around plants has significant benefits for both physical and mental health...
Posted: 2 April 2003
by Jon
Getting outdoors isn't just good for the soul, it really does have
postive health benefits as well according to a new study from Essex
University.
The paper, which forms the basis of an article in today's Guardian
Society section, suggests that people in contact with the environment
are more likely to be physically and mentally healthy. It's a
distillation of a large number of studies worldwide into the impact
of contact with the outdoors on health.
Conclusions include suggestions that people under mental stress
for all sorts of reasons, from bereavement to mental health problems,
benefit from visits to places of wild natural beauty and that 'built
environments' can be stressful, which you probably realise
already.
Apparently we now spend 110 million days a year on outdoor sport
and leisure, 104 million days on hiking and walking, 77 million on
pony trekking, mountaineering and shooting - a bizarre statistical
combination if you ask us - and 32 million on cycling.
The study reportedly finishes by suggesting that upping the amount
of 'green exercise' taken would have significant implications for
public health and, as a result, cost the economy less.
To read the Guardian story click
here.
For the original Exxex University report see this
page. The study is available as a downloadable PDF and is the
last link on the page.
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