Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 12 hrs ago
Australian GPs get new guidance for prescribing time in nature
Australia’s GP college has endorsed guidance for prescribing time in nature as part of routine care.
The People and Parks Foundation resource asks patients to focus on nature’s sights, sounds, smells and textures, rather than simply going for exercise.
The guidance suggests 20 minutes a day or two hours a week may help reduce stress, improve mood and sleep, and lower blood pressure.
Nature prescriptions are individualised and used alongside traditional medical treatment, not necessarily instead of it.
Studies in Australia and the UK have linked time outdoors with better wellbeing, including reduced anxiety, distress and loneliness in some groups.
The evidence has limits, as some studies involved small groups or relied on people reporting their own outcomes.
Doctors say their guidance can encourage patients to make time outdoors part of their care.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has endorsed new guidelines for GPs to prescribe time in nature.
The Nature Dose resource was developed by the not-for-profit People and Parks Foundation.
It advises that as little as 20 minutes a day, or two hours a week, in nature can support health and wellbeing.
Nature dosing involves deliberately noticing sights, sounds, smells and textures, and is offered alongside traditional medical treatment.
Evidence cited includes studies in the UK and Australia, though some studies have small samples and rely on self-reporting.
- Who
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners endorsed the guidance, developed by the People and Parks Foundation.
- What
- New guidance shows GPs how to prescribe time in nature as part of routine care.
- When
- The guidance was recently endorsed; the exact date is not stated.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- The guidance aims to help patients reconnect with nature, with potential benefits including reduced stress and improved mood and wellbeing.
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- Guidance
- Nature Dose resource
- Endorsing organisation
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Developer
- People and Parks Foundation
- Suggested time
- 20 minutes a day or two hours a week
- Australian study
- 39 young people in the Shepparton area
- UK study
- Almost 20,000 participants
What people are saying
Nature walking
It’s not just ‘go for a walk for exercise’ – now it’s time to heal.
It’s empowering
Part of the solution is helping people reconnect with nature and remember that they are part of [it]