Why boosting body image is a walk in the park

Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University and lead author of the study, said there were several reasons why exposure to nature could result in positive body image. “It might be that it distances people, physically and mentally, from appearance-focused situations that are one of the causes of negative body image,” he said. “It is also possible that exposure to environments with depth and complexity restricts negative appearance-related thoughts.”

Professor Swami said one surprising result from the study was that there was no need to be outside to feel happier. Digital images of the “great outdoors” viewed on a computer screen also had a positive impact on body images, researchers found.

He told the Standard: “The importance of the study is that it shows for the first time that exposure to any kind of nature, whether it’s digital images or real nature, has a positive effect.

“Natural environments effortlessly hold your attention – a process known as ‘soft fascination’. This is often accompanied by feelings of pleasure, such as when you are drawn to the sight of a setting sun.” The study, which involved University College London and Perdana university in Malaysia, is published in the journal Body Image.