Spending 120 Minutes a Week in Nature Tied to Better Health, Well-Being

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH

Adults who spend at least 120 minutes out in nature each week are more likely to report good health and high life satisfaction, according to a cross-sectional study in Science Reports.

Some 20,000 U.K. adults answered survey questions about their overall health, well-being, and time spent in nature in the prior 7 days. Nature was defined as "open spaces in and around towns and cities, including parks, canals and nature areas; the coast and beaches; and the countryside including farmland, woodland, hills and rivers."

After adjustment for confounders like physical activity and neighborhood green space, respondents who reported at least 120 minutes in nature were significantly more likely to report good/very good health and high well-being than those reporting no time in nature.

The researchers say the benefits were similar to those derived from physical activity or living in areas with low deprivation.