Table 1 Summary of studies
Study | Nature intervention | Outcome variable(s) | Summarized findings |
|---|---|---|---|
1 (N = 39) | Outdoor field study with 20-minute nature vs. urban walks | Food choice and consumption in a snack buffet that comprised of healthy snacks and unhealthy snacks, pre-tested for healthiness | Participants asked to take a nature walk ate healthier snacks at the buffet when compared to those who went on the urban walk. There was no evidence of a difference in the quantity of snacks consumed between the two conditions. |
2 (N = 698) | Pre-registered online study with photos of a hotel room window view of nature vs. urban vs. control (i.e., closed curtain) scenes | Choice of lunch from a room service menu with 12 food/beverage options (4 mains, 4 sides, 4 drinks), pre-tested for healthiness | When compared to participants in both the urban and control conditions, participants in the nature group made significantly healthier lunch choices. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between participants in the urban and control conditions in their choice of healthy foods. |
3 (N = 885) | Pre-registered online study with the same nature and urban photos as Study 2 (but without the window frames) | Choice of lunch from a room service menu with 12 food/beverage options (4 mains, 4 sides, 4 drinks), with respondents’ own food/beverage healthiness ratings | Participants in the nature condition were significantly more likely to choose healthier foods when compared to participants in the urban condition. Respondents’ own food healthiness ratings were more predictive of food choice in the nature condition than in the urban condition. |
4 (N = 1191) | Pre-registered online study with photos of nature vs. urban scenes taken by the same photographer | Incentive-compatible snack choice task between: (1) a natural, healthy snack, (2) a tasty, indulgent snack, or (3) a diet, light snack | Participants in the nature condition were more likely to select a natural, healthy snack and less likely to select a tasty, indulgent snack or a diet, light snack than participants in the urban condition. |
5 (N = 913) | Pre-registered online study with photos of nature and urban scenes used in a past inconclusive study15 | Choice of lunch from a room service menu with 12 food/beverage options (4 mains, 4 sides, 4 drinks), pre-tested for healthiness | Regardless of how food healthiness was measured, participants in the nature condition made significantly healthier food choices when compared to participants in the urban condition. |
