MONDAY, June 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Exercising in natural surroundings -- a jog through a park, a bicycle ride along a trail -- could be more beneficial than working out indoors, a new review suggests. However, access to natural areas that are public varies widely, with not everyone having the chance to exercise outdoors, the investigators noted. “The research is clear that natural settings could be an effective venue for promoting physical activity,” said lead researcher Jay Maddock , director of the Texas A&M University Center for Health & Nature.
“People generally enjoy being outdoors, with parks, trails and community gardens being the most popular venues.” Currently, more than 3 of 4 adults fail to get the weekly amount of physical activity recommended in the United States, researchers said in background notes. Such exercise can prevent chronic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and osteoporosis, researchers said.
It also can enhance immune function, improve mood, aid pain control and extend life expectancy. For the study, published recently in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine , researchers analyzed data from prior research regarding the benefits of outdoor exercise compared against indoor workouts. The studies revealed a mix of potential benefits from outdoor physical activity -- improved mood and brain function, better social interaction, greater enjoyment of exercise and possibly even less perceived exertion.
The research.