Keeping the mind fit

Regular outdoor exercise could halve the risk of suffering from poor mental health, according to a new study.

Activities in natural environments such as parks and forests have a positive effect on stress, mood and fatigue, researchers at the University of Glasgow found.

The study showed that exercising in “non-natural environments” such as gyms does not protect against poor mental health.

Richard Mitchell, of the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health at the University, said: “I wasn’t surprised by the findings that exercise in natural environments is good for your mental health, but I was surprised by just how much better it is for your mental health to exercise in a green place like a forest, than in other places like the gym.

“Exercise anywhere is a good thing but exercise in natural environments has a greater benefit for mental health.

“The results suggest that making the decision to exercise in a natural environment just once a week could be enough to gain a benefit. Any additional use may have a bigger effect.”

Prof. Mitchell said eight per cent of people who exercised regularly in green spaces were likely to suffer poor mental health, while the number doubled to 16 per cent for those who did not exercise regularly outdoors.