Nature Based Therapy With Mindful Walks in Urban Coastal Setting - Barcelona (Spain)

NATURE-based Therapy in Urban Coast in Barcelona (NATURE-MET-B)

The main objective of the NATURE-MET-B (Barcelona) study is to analyze the effects of a Nature-based Therapy (NbT) on the biopsychological resilience of adults general population through changes in: i) health-related quality of life and ii) allostatic load (physiological stress). The secondary objective is to provide data on the environmental, social, and economic aspects of the intervention in order to refine specific prevention programs and establish programs that include NbT as a secondary preventive measure in healthcare.

Analogous to NATURE-MET-B, two similar NbT studies will be carried out in Padua (Italy) and Salzburg (Austria) for the secondary prevention of Metabolic Syndrom (MetS). These are not multicenter studies but three comparable studies with similar inclusion and exclusion criteria in all study locations. Only the types of landscape and natural exposure sites differ: Barcelona-Coastal Urban, Padua-Urban Green, Salzburg-Mountainous Rural.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults >=18 years
• Smartphone users

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute contraindications

  - Malignant hypertension

• Contraindications or differential diagnosis

  • Severe respiratory or pulmonary disease (COPD, severe asthma, emphysema)
  • Arteriosclerotic incident (e.g., myocardial infarction) 6 months previous the study starting
  • Heart failure
  • Uncontrolled metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus)
  • Diagnosis or treatment of a malignant disease < 3 years ago
  • Chronic immunological diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Orthopedic conditions that prevent participation in excursions

• Factors that prevent or hinder participation in the intervention program

  • Alcohol or substance abuse (except nicotine)
  • Pregnancy
  • Insufficient knowledge of Spanish or Catalan (written and spoken/questionnaires)
  • Factors that prevent self-management
  • Moderate to severe depression (score < 13 points on the WHO-5)
  • Other untreated severe psychiatric illnesses (e.g., schizophrenia)
  • Taking certain medications
  • Use of weight loss supplements
  • Participation in another clinical intervention trial
  • Participation in therapeutic weight loss programs