Study suggests added benefits of exercising outdoors
11/08/2010 Exercising outdoors could provide more health benefits than taking part in physical activity indoors, a new study suggests.
Research conducted at Bangor University and published in the BMC collated the results of 25 studies to see the different effects that exercising in natural environments and man-made environments have on people.
Most of the participants involved in the various studies analysed were either students of university age or physically active individuals, such as backpackers or athletes.
Exercising outdoors was shown to have a greater beneficial effect on energy, anxiety, anger, fatigue and sadness.
In some cases may have a positive influence on attention, tranquillity and blood pressure - although no consistent results were discovered.
Based on their findings the researchers said that overall, exercising outdoors "may have direct and
positive impacts on well-being".
"This systematic review contributes a rigorous and objective synthesis of the evidence for 'added benefits' to health from activities in natural environments," they added.
A study conducted earlier this year, presented by Professor Boyd Swinburn, chair of population health and director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, found that interventions like encouraging children to exercise outdoors were most effective on those under the age of five.
Research conducted at Bangor University and published in the BMC collated the results of 25 studies to see the different effects that exercising in natural environments and man-made environments have on people.
Most of the participants involved in the various studies analysed were either students of university age or physically active individuals, such as backpackers or athletes.
Exercising outdoors was shown to have a greater beneficial effect on energy, anxiety, anger, fatigue and sadness.
In some cases may have a positive influence on attention, tranquillity and blood pressure - although no consistent results were discovered.
Based on their findings the researchers said that overall, exercising outdoors "may have direct and
positive impacts on well-being".
"This systematic review contributes a rigorous and objective synthesis of the evidence for 'added benefits' to health from activities in natural environments," they added.
A study conducted earlier this year, presented by Professor Boyd Swinburn, chair of population health and director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, found that interventions like encouraging children to exercise outdoors were most effective on those under the age of five.
