Spending time outdoors may have an unexpected connection to how we eat. A new study suggests that people who have more contact with nature also tend to feel better about their bodies and approach food with less judgment.
The research, published in the journal Body Image, surveyed 500 adults in the United Kingdom and found links between nature exposure, body appreciation, self-compassion and intuitive eating. The findings don't establish that being outdoors changes eating habits, but they offer a different perspective on the factors that shape our relationship with food.
Intuitive eating focuses on recognizing hunger and fullness, eating according to the body's needs and moving away from strict food rules. Rather than treating certain foods as off-limits, the approach encourages people to pay attention to how different foods make them feel.
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University asked participants about their time spent in natural environments, their attitudes toward their bodies and how they approached eating.
Those who reported more contact with nature generally had greater appreciation for their bodies and were more compassionate toward themselves. Both qualities were associated with intuitive eating.
One possible explanation is that people who feel more comfortable with their bodies may also be more likely to recognize and respond to physical cues, such as hunger and fullness. Similarly, being less critical of themselves may help people approach eating without guilt or rigid expectations.
However, the study found no significant direct relationship between nature exposure and intuitive eating after accounting for body appreciation and self-compassion. That suggests the connection may be more complicated than simply spending more time outside.
The research builds on earlier studies suggesting that natural environments can influence mood, body image and even immediate food choices. But whether these experiences lead to lasting changes in eating habits remains unclear.
Lead author Viren Swami, a professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University, acknowledged the study's limitations.
“We recognise there are limitations to this study, particularly as it is based on self-reported data, and further studies in other countries are needed,” Swami said.
Participants completed questionnaires at a single point in time, meaning researchers couldn't determine whether nature exposure influenced their attitudes toward eating or whether people with those attitudes were simply more likely to spend time outdoors.
The researchers also didn't track what participants actually ate, so the findings don't demonstrate that greater nature exposure leads to a more nutritious diet.
Still, the study adds another dimension to our understanding of eating behavior. Our relationship with food may involve more than nutritional knowledge or willpower, with emotional well-being and how we feel about our bodies potentially playing important roles.
The research was supported by the Research Centre for Better Living through the Wellbeing in Nature research hub at Anglia Ruskin University.