The findings, published by researchers from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) in leading journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health provides compelling evidence that natural settings not only enhance physical performance but also offer additional mental and emotional benefits.
The research was conducted by the Human Evolutionary Eco-Physiology (HEEP) Research Group, overseen by Dr Danny Longman and Dr Colin Shaw (University of Zurich).
“We had participants run for 30 minutes around a loop in a forest environment and also in an urban environment,” explained lead researcher Matthew Putland.
“We found that participants ran significantly further in the natural environment compared to the urban setting, despite them perceiving their effort levels as the same. Their enjoyment, mood, and intention to exercise again were also significantly higher in the nature setting.”
Crucially, a single exercise session in nature produced dramatic increases in motivation to exercise in the future.
“This is particularly important because low exercise adherence is a major public health challenge,” Matthew continued. “We found that participants who exercised in nature were far more likely to say they'd want to do the same activity again in the short term and would sustain it over the next 12 months. This is significant, because sustained motivation is what keeps people active in the long-term.”
Dr Danny Longman, who leads the HEEP Research Group at Loughborough University, explains the theoretical framework behind the findings.
“This project is grounded in our group’s Environmental Mismatch Hypothesis – the idea that industrialisation has created a mismatch between human biology shaped by natural environments and the contemporary industrialised world we now inhabit.
“The hypothesis suggests that industrialised environments may affect us through two primary pathways: exposure to novel environmental challenges such as pollution, artificial lighting, noise and traffic that our physiology isn't well-adapted to handle, and through reduced contact with natural environmental features (for example microbial diversity, phytoncides from plants, natural light-dark cycles, and sensory experiences like birdsong) that are necessary for optimal physiological regulation.
“This study demonstrates that effect directly. Participants ran further in nature without any rise in heart rate or perceived effort, and reported greater enjoyment and motivation to exercise again, suggesting the forest environment placed fewer demands on their physiology while providing the resources they needed to perform.”
Matthew Putland added: "This has a clear public health message: if people exercise in nature, they enjoy it more, feel better and run further without added exertion or discomfort. This could help people stay consistent with exercise routines, build better habits, and improve long-term health.
“The message is simple: the easiest and cheapest way to improve exercise habits and enjoyment is to do it in nature. Being outdoors already improves stress and health, but combined with exercise, the benefits multiply, enhancing enjoyment, adherence, motivation, and performance.”
Matthew's research is supported by Professor Stacy Clemes and Dr Stephen Bailey at Loughborough University.
The full paper can be found here: www.academic.oup.com/emph/article/14/1/1/8771997
